Archive for April, 2019

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OPG claims Land Minister annulling revocation is illegal, requests review by Disputes Committee

OPG claims Land Minister annulling revocation is illegal, requests review by Disputes Committee

April 23, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 22 Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki submitted materials to the Committee for Settling National-Local Disputes, an entity belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, requesting a third-party review of Land Minister’s decision to annul the Okinawa Prefectural Government’s (OPG’s) revocation of the land reclamation permit.

In its request for review, the OPG is recommending that the Land Minister’s decision...

 

Okinawan National Treasure sings at legendary Carnegie Hall

Okinawan National Treasure sings at legendary Carnegie Hall

April 20, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Naoki Isa, New York

The Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai USA (The Afuso School Style of Classical Ryukyu Music Association) and its president, Grant Sadami Murata, presented “TOBE! Uta Sanshin in NY” at the Carnegie Hall in New York...

Consultations regarding abandonment after pregnancy, domestic violence, language barriers, and other issues involving dating and marriage to U.S. military personnel and base workers on the rise, dating apps play a role

Consultations regarding abandonment after pregnancy, domestic violence, language barriers, and other issues involving dating and marriage to U.S. military personnel and base workers on the rise, dating apps play a role

April 23, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yoshinori Takada

There have been countless incidents of problems relating to relationships with and marriages to U.S. military personnel and base workers.

In 2018, 87 people consulted with Women’s Pride, an NPO that provides consultation relating...

Citizen group files lawsuit against Japan, arguing ruling that overturned land reclamation permission revocation “illegal”

Citizen group files lawsuit against Japan, arguing ruling that overturned land reclamation permission revocation “illegal”

April 20, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

A part of the ongoing dispute over new U.S. military base construction in the Henoko neighborhood of Nago, Okinawa, a group of 16 anti-base residents who live in the area where land reclamation work is ongoing just off the coast of Henoko have filed a lawsuit against...

Tomohiro Yara wins Okinawa No. 3 district Lower House by-election with platform opposing new Henoko base

Tomohiro Yara wins Okinawa No. 3 district Lower House by-election with platform opposing new Henoko base

April 21, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tomohiro Yara, 56, is a freelance journalist and a new independent candidate in the Lower House by-election in the Okinawa No. 3 district backed by the “All Okinawa” camp.

He won in the by-election held on April 21 after Denny Tamaki resigned...

Futenma noise pollution lawsuit monetary award lowered over 30% in appeal ruling

Futenma noise pollution lawsuit monetary award lowered over 30% in appeal ruling

April 17, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The ruling for the appeal in the 2nd Futenma noise pollution lawsuit, in which the 3,415 residents who live in the area around MCAS Futenma filed suit seeking a substantive flight stoppage as well as compensation for both past and future damage, was handed down...

Skip Martin of Grammy-winning Dazz Band made Okinawa goodwill ambassador

Skip Martin of Grammy-winning Dazz Band made Okinawa goodwill ambassador

April 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) has declared American Grammy-winning musical artist Skip Martin, 61, a goodwill ambassador for Okinawa.

At Haneda Airport in Tokyo on April 16, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki met Martin to present him with a certificate...

MOE investigates sightings of two dugong near Hateruma Island

MOE investigates sightings of two dugong near Hateruma Island

April 18, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 16 the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) publicized the results of its 2018 investigation of the dugong habitat.

According to the investigation, on August 22, 2018 two dugong specimens thought to be parent and child were seen from a helicopter at...

Second-generation Okinawan descendant meets with her mother’s relatives in Okinawa

Second-generation Okinawan descendant meets with her mother’s relatives in Okinawa

April 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yousuke Asato

“I’m proud to have connected with Okinawa.”

On April 9, Natalie Ann Yasumine, a second-generation Okinawan descendant from Georgia, arrived in Okinawa with the goal of meeting her relatives, which she accomplished.

She...

Battle of Okinawa was “hell on earth”: A veteran’s vow to peace

Battle of Okinawa was “hell on earth”: A veteran’s vow to peace

April 4, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Friends of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum hosted an educational 5K peace walk in Naha City on April 13. The course stretched from “Sugarloaf Hill”, which was the bloodiest battlefield during the Battle of Okinawa, to Shuri Park, where the former...

Okinawa Shogaku Junior High School receives MEXT Minister Prize for largest number of Eiken passers

Okinawa Shogaku Junior High School receives MEXT Minister Prize for largest number of Eiken passers

April 12, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 29, the Okinawa Shogaku Junior High School was awarded the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Minister Prize (junior high school division) as the entity with the largest number of people nationwide who passed the Eiken...