A beach opening with no swimmers? Japan’s southernmost event to be curtailed by COVID-19

A beach opening with no swimmers? Japan’s southernmost event to be curtailed by COVID-19

Winners of the 40th Miss Yaeyama pageant announcing the opening of the beaches in Yaeyama. March 14 at Sukuji Beach in Kabira, Yaeyama


March 15, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ishigaki – “Japan’s Southernmost point! Yaeyama Beach Opening 2020” (hosted by the Yaeyama Visitor’s Bureau) was held March 14 at Sukuji Beach in Kabira, Yaeyama. However, the event was greatly scaled back as a prevention measure against the spread of COVID-19. Prior to the official opening of the summer season, representatives at the even prayed for ocean safety and a speedy resolution to the coronavirus outbreak.

At 9:00 a.m. the morning of March 14, it was 18.9 degrees Celsius on Ishigaki Island, and in the chilly weather sprinkled with the occasional rain, the Shinto priest at the event led organizers in a prayer for ocean safety this year. Then, the winners of the 40th Miss Yaeyama pageant gave the declaration opening the beach.

In other years, after the tape-cutting a group of children all jump into the ocean together, however this year the event was closed to the general public, so there were no swimmers to mark the opening. There were other announcements such as the winners of the 41st Miss Yaeyama pageant.

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

Go to Japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]