Archive for June, 2018

Recent News

F-15 crash arouses concern among residents about dangers of living near Kadena Air Base

F-15 crash arouses concern among residents about dangers of living near Kadena Air Base

 

June 12, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

In the early morning on June 11, a U.S. F-15 fighter aircraft from Kadena Air Base crashed in the ocean to the south of Okinawa Island.

 

Residents living in the vicinity of the base have been reminded again of the danger to which they are neighbors.

 

Those living their usual daily lives below heard a resounding roar from the U.S. military aircraft overhead, which aroused their fear of repeating...

 

Adjustments to ODB’s plan for handling coral pushes soil depositing back to mid-August

Adjustments to ODB’s plan for handling coral pushes soil depositing back to mid-August

 

June 8, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The Japanese government is making arrangements for land reclamation work in Henoko, as part of construction of the replacement facility for Futenma Air Station.

Although the government planned to start depositing soil into the ocean...

Expansion work on airstrip simulating ship’s deck proceeding at Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield

Expansion work on airstrip simulating ship’s deck proceeding at Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield

June 7, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

At Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield in Ie Village, expansion work is proceeding on the “LHD deck” airstrip, which simulates the deck of an amphibious assault ship.

On June 6, the Ryukyu Shimpo used drone aerial photography to check in on this airstrip...

“It’s been a dream since I was a child.” Kitanakagusuku High School graduate Joey O’Brien drafted by Seattle Mariners in 6th round

“It’s been a dream since I was a child.” Kitanakagusuku High School graduate Joey O’Brien drafted by Seattle Mariners in 6th round

 

June 7, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

 

With a 155-km fastball and good slugging power, two-way prospect Joey O’Brien, 20, from Okinawa Prefectural Kitagusuku High School, and more recently the College of Southern Nevada, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners...

Japan exploring special measures to obtain civil damages from the U.S. in the 2016 murder of an Okinawan woman

June 7, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

It was announced June 6 that Japan and the U.S. are discussing a proposal to solve an ongoing issue where the U.S. has refused to pay damages to the surviving family of the woman who was raped and murdered by a civilian contractor working on a U.S. military...

“Listen to the voices of the Okinawan citizens,” says former Canadian diplomat

“Listen to the voices of the Okinawan citizens,” says former Canadian diplomat

June 6, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

On June 5, former Canadian diplomat who currently lives in Vancouver, Terry Greenberg, 72, and his wife Yoko Oikawa, 59, attended an at-sea protest for the first time.

The purpose of this protest was to prevent the new base construction that is...

Okinawa Defense Bureau submits Henoko red soil outflow prevention documents to Prefectural Government for review

Okinawa Defense Bureau submits Henoko red soil outflow prevention documents to Prefectural Government for review

June 5, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yuri Shimizu

On June 4, the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) began notification procedures as set forth in the Okinawa Prefecture Red Soil Prevention Ordinance, which is necessary to perform before depositing soil in the ocean. These soil deposits are part of...

Local municipalities worry about increased noise from temporary F-22 deployment to Kadena Air Base

Local municipalities worry about increased noise from temporary F-22 deployment to Kadena Air Base

May 31, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighters were first deployed to Okinawa in 2007, and have again been temporarily deployed to Kadena Air Base. Following deployment, the number of noise occurrences in neighboring municipalities doubled, and complaints from residents increased...

Ten thousand people encircle Japan’s National Diet to protest land reclamation work in Henoko

Ten thousand people encircle Japan’s National Diet to protest land reclamation work in Henoko

May 27, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

A large-scale citizens’ rally encircling the National Diet called “Don’t Destroy the Beautiful Ocean, Don’t Fill it with Sand” met on May 26, calling for abandonment of Futenma replacement facility construction in Henoko, Nago City. The rally...

Three U.S. Air Force CV-22 Ospreys land at Kadena Air Base in first trip to Okinawa, two planes must make emergency landing at Amami Airport

Three U.S. Air Force CV-22 Ospreys land at Kadena Air Base in first trip to Okinawa, two planes must make emergency landing at Amami Airport

June 4, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

Three U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey transport aircraft stationed at Yokota Air Base landed one after the other at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in the afternoon June 4. This is the first time that the CV-22 has come to Okinawa.

The first CV-22 landed...

After outcry from LDP members citing a conflict with the effort to reduce the burden of military bases on Okinawa, policy paper edited to change “U.S. military” to simply “the U.S.” in English education policy statement

May 31, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tokyo –In a policy paper submitted by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to the necessary ministries in hopes of the policy suggestions being reflected in the “Big-Boned Policy,” a set of policy guidelines to determine economic and fiscal management, it was...