Archive for July, 2020

Recent News

LDP heavyweight Shigeru Ishiba says Henoko relocation is “not the only solution”

LDP heavyweight Shigeru Ishiba says Henoko relocation is “not the only solution”

July 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tokyo—Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party spoke before a group of editorial writers from Kyodo News member newspapers on July 2. Ishiba commented on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago City and said, “I don’t believe that ‘this is it,’ I don’t think pushing [the plan] through is the only solution.” He indicated his intention to revisit the current relocation plan, which...

 

Woman who spoke about the Battle of Okinawa as the “Trembling Girl” harassed at home by unknown male visitor

June 26 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Yosuke Anri

Sueko Urasaki, 82, who came forward as the “trembling girl” in an image from the Battle of Okinawa, was, according to sources contacted on June 25, visited by a man who made accusatory remarks doubting her story. Urasaki has been avoiding...

Little terns: Nurturing love in material storage area

Little terns: Nurturing love in material storage area

July 3, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

A group of little terns, an endangered migratory bird, are breeding in a material storage area located in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island. The area is managed by Naha City and Okinawa Prefecture. In recent years, the birds have increasingly been breeding...

Journal details Okinawan residents being “ordered to leave cave shelters” by the Japanese army during the United States army’s assault in the Battle of Okinawa

Journal details Okinawan residents being “ordered to leave cave shelters” by the Japanese army during the United States army’s assault in the Battle of Okinawa

June 29, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hideki Matsudo

A journal that belonged to an office worker from Mawashi village (now the Mawashi neighborhood of Naha) that details escaping to the southern part of Okinawa’s main island with his family during the Battle of Okinawa when he was 38, has...

Gov. Tamaki shares his mother’s words and lesson learned from WWII: ‘Life is precious’

Gov. Tamaki shares his mother’s words and lesson learned from WWII: ‘Life is precious’

June 26, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

During a regular meeting on June 26, a reporter asked Governor Denny Tamaki what lessons can be learned from the Battle of Okinawa, referencing the governor’s remarks during the Okinawa Memorial Day ceremony which was held on June 23. The Okinawa governor responded,...

OPG to form committee of civil engineers and other experts to look into opening 32nd Army underground trenches to the public

OPG to form committee of civil engineers and other experts to look into opening 32nd Army underground trenches to the public

June 27, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 26, Governor Denny Tamaki revealed a plan to form a new committee of experts this fiscal year to discuss the possibility of preserving and opening to the public the underground trenches built during the war under Shuri Castle and used as the headquarters...

Editorial: Washington is concerned by Henoko plans—Tokyo should stop wasting time and taxpayer money

June 26, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Doubts about the feasibility of relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago City, has spread to the U.S.

The Readiness Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee has passed its portion of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense...

Taiwanese city of Su’ao cancels their sister city event with Ishigaki due to Senkaku name change

Taiwanese city of Su’ao cancels their sister city event with Ishigaki due to Senkaku name change

June 25, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Wu Li Jun

Ishigaki’s decision to change the name of the Senkaku islands from “Tonoshiro” to “Tonoshiro Senkaku” has had an effect on their relationship with their sister city. Ishigaki and the city of Su’ao in Yinlan, Taiwan were on track to...

Two months with zero international visitors

Two months with zero international visitors

June 24, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 24, the Okinawa Prefecture Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports announced that there were 44,000 visitors to the prefecture in May, a 94.7% (790,900 people) decrease compared to May 2019. This is the largest drop recorded, in both percentage and actual...