Archive for October, 2019

Recent News

Community roundtable for island-wide debate on SDGs and inclusivity

Community roundtable for island-wide debate on SDGs and inclusivity

September 29, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

“Community Roundtable to Promote SDGs”, a platform to allow island-wide discussions on advancing SDGs (United Nations sustainable development goals), was held on September 28 at the Okinawa Prefectural Library in Naha City.
A group of 80 residents participated in the first-ever community roundtable.

Jun Shimabukuro, chair of the The Bankoku Shinryo Committee (a group commissioned by Gov. Tamaki to advance SDGs) and professor at the University...

 

OIST, Misawa Homes jointly awarded Good Design Award Best 100 for Sustainable Architecture

OIST, Misawa Homes jointly awarded Good Design Award Best 100 for Sustainable Architecture

October 3, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 2 the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (Tokyo Prefecture) announced the results of the 2019 Good Design Award (1,420 entries selected).

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST, Onna Village) and Misawa Homes...

Okinawa selected as top port of call at cruise forum, winning the award for the second time since 2017

Okinawa selected as top port of call at cruise forum, winning the award for the second time since 2017

September 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The “2019 Asia Cruise Forum Jeju,” an annual forum meant to stimulate the Asian cruise market, took place from August 28-30 on Jeju Island, Korea, where Okinawa was selected as the top port of call in Asia. The number of ports, Okinawa’s nature and culture,...

Now operational: Monorail extension into Urasoe adds four new stations

Now operational: Monorail extension into Urasoe adds four new stations

October 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Urban Monorail, also known as Yui Rail, expanded its existing line 4.1km into Urasoe City. Service to the extended line began on September 29. Four new stations service the extended zone: Tedako-Uranishi, Urasoe-Maeda, Kyōzuka and Ishimine, which opened...

U.S. military still using land after its return; 342 unused bullets, field rations waste, and other garbage found on former NTA land

U.S. military still using land after its return; 342 unused bullets, field rations waste, and other garbage found on former NTA land

September 30, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Kunigami) On September 28, 342 unused U.S. military bullets and a large quantity of field ration packaging and other garbage were discovered near the location of the former LZ-1 helipad on returned land that used to be part of the U.S. military’s Northern...

Seven years after the deployment of MV-22 Ospreys to MCAS Futenma, night flights outside the agreed upon times increasing

Seven years after the deployment of MV-22 Ospreys to MCAS Futenma, night flights outside the agreed upon times increasing

October 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

It has been seven years since the MV-22 vertical-takeoff-and-landing-capable (VTOL) transport aircraft was deployed to MCAS Futenma in Ginowan. As part of measures taken to reduce noise pollution from aircraft (the noise pollution prevention agreement), flights...

Japanese Should Stop Calling DRPK “Kita-Chosen”

Satoko Oka Norimatsu, Editor, The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus

This summer, I went to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or in Japanese, Chosen Minshushugi Jinmin Kyowakoku (in short, “Chosen”), with three of my girlfriends.

Western media propagates this country...

U.S. military denies Okinawa’s request to enter military base for surveying, delaying highway construction

U.S. military denies Okinawa’s request to enter military base for surveying, delaying highway construction

September 26, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Saki Yoshida

Part of the work on Prefectural Route 24 Bypass, which is Okinawa is constructing to connect Chatan and Okinawa City, is being suspended as Okinawa has not received permission from the U.S. military for the work.

Part of the planned...

All 14 panels of the Marukis’ Pictures of the Battle of Okinawa exhibited at Sakima Museum

All 14 panels of the Marukis’ Pictures of the Battle of Okinawa exhibited at Sakima Museum

September 27, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On September 25 an exhibition of all 14 panels of the Pictures of the Battle of Okinawa (Okinawasen no Zu) by the husband and wife artists, the late Iri and Shun Maruki, opened at the Sakima Art Museum (Director Michio Sakima).

This exhibit commemorates...

Okinawa selected as top port of call at cruise forum, winning the award for the second time since 2017

Okinawa selected as top port of call at cruise forum, winning the award for the second time since 2017

September 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The “2019 Asia Cruise Forum Jeju,” an annual forum meant to stimulate the Asian cruise market, took place from August 28-30 on Jeju Island, Korea, where Okinawa was selected as the top port of call in Asia.

The number of ports, Okinawa’s nature...

Kitadaito residents get relief as food items finally reach island

Kitadaito residents get relief as food items finally reach island

September 26, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Junko Uechi

Kitadaito—The Daito, a passenger-cargo ship connecting Kitadaito island to Naha, resumed operations on September 25.

Its operation was suspended on September 11, due to stormy conditions and a typhoon passing by.

Many flights...