Archive for August, 2019

Recent News

Window falls from Futenma Air Station CH-53 helicopter over East China Sea off Okinawa Island

Window falls from Futenma Air Station CH-53 helicopter over East China Sea off Okinawa Island

August 29, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

On August 29 it came to the Ryukyu Shimpo’s attention that around 5:30 p.m. on August 27 the plastic window of a CH-53 helicopter from Futenma Air Station fell from the craft about 8 kilometers above the East China Sea off Okinawa Island.

On August 29 the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) contacted some municipalities concerning the incident, including the Okinawa Prefecture, Chatan Town, Okinawa City, and Kadena Town.

The U.S....

 

Eisa festival photos/video: The electrifying three days

Eisa festival photos/video: The electrifying three days

August 25, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The 64th Annual Zento Eisa Festival took place August 22 through August 25, at various locations including the Koza Athletic Park Track and Field Stadium in Okinawa City.

The three-day event was hosted by the Zento Eisa Festival Planning and Executive Committee...

Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau host meeting to discuss tourism issues, consider tightening regulations

Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau host meeting to discuss tourism issues, consider tightening regulations

July 7, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB, Yoshiro Shimoji, president) held the first 2019 meeting of the “Okinawa-wide Tourism Association Conference” at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan in Tomigusuku July 5, which brings together the tourism associations...

Miyakojima residents’ association members call on Defense Bureau to stop SDF missile base deployment

Miyakojima residents’ association members call on Defense Bureau to stop SDF missile base deployment

August 27, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 26, association representative Seihan Nakazato and other members of the Miyakojima Residents’ Liaison Association Against the Missile Base visited the Okinawa prefectural office and the Okinawa Defense Bureau with a list of demands including cancellation...

Carrying on former Governor Onaga’s spirit

Carrying on former Governor Onaga’s spirit

August 22, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the afternoon of August 22, the Gathering for Remembering Takeshi Onaga was held at the Okinawa Karate Hall in Tomigusuku.

The gathering was planned around the 1-year anniversary of former Governor Onaga’s death, which occurred suddenly last August...

Uncertainty in tourism: Airlines slash Korea-Okinawa flights as diplomatic rift deepens

August 21, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yuki Nakamura

Top South Korean airline, Korean Air, announced major changes to its Japanese routes on August 20.

Beginning September 29, Incheon-Naha flights (currently offered daily) will be temporarily curtailed to four flights a week, departing...

Stunning! 1,000 Karate-ka perform a martial arts demonstration for peace against the backdrop of the blue Okinawa Sea

Stunning! 1,000 Karate-ka perform a martial arts demonstration for peace against the backdrop of the blue Okinawa Sea

August 21, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Onna – The Ryuei-ryu Ryuho-kai karate organization (Tsuguo Sakumoto, president) hosted the “International Peace Offering Demonstration” August 20 at the Onna Beach Park in Onna.

Approximately 1,000 Karate-ka from Okinawa, other parts of Japan, and...

U.S. military nighttime takeoffs/landings violate noise-prevention agreement, citizens complain

U.S. military nighttime takeoffs/landings violate noise-prevention agreement, citizens complain

August 21, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 19 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma in Ginowan City, Okinawa, U.S. military aircraft were repeatedly taking off and landing outside of the timeframe allowed by aircraft noise regulatory measures (the noise-prevention agreement), past 10:00 p.m....

Resolution proposal demanding U.S. government perform Oura Bay survey adopted at Veterans for Peace convention

Resolution proposal demanding U.S. government perform Oura Bay survey adopted at Veterans for Peace convention

August 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Hanayo Oya reports from Spokane

On August 17, at the annual convention of the peace organization Veterans for Peace (VFP), which is currently being held in Spokane, Washington, members voted unanimously in favor of a proposed resolution opposing the construction...

Okinawa high school students place in national tanka poetry competition

Okinawa high school students place in national tanka poetry competition

August 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The final rounds of the National High School Tanka Competition were held in Morioka city, Iwate prefecture—hometown of the poet, Takuboku Ishikawa. Tanka is a Japanese thirty-one-syllable poem, written in a single unbroken line. The Yukari Kojima Special Jury...

Governor Tamaki brings the “Caravan” to Nagoya, proclaims Henoko can be resolved through discussion

Governor Tamaki brings the “Caravan” to Nagoya, proclaims Henoko can be resolved through discussion

August 20, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Yukito Toyama

Nagoya – Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki brought his “Talk Caravan,” which is travelling Japan to share Okinawa’s position on new base construction in the Henoko neighborhood in Nago City and other national security issues, to a crowd...