Archive for August, 2020

Recent News

Arrows of light visible in the summer night sky

Arrows of light visible in the summer night sky

August 13, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Mention of the Perseid Meteor Shower conjures up images of the night sky in summer. The meteor shower was at its peak from late night on August 12 until just before dawn on August 13. The meteors leaving trails as they streaked across the night sky were even seen in every region of Okinawa.

In the mountains of Higashi Village, where the sky is unpolluted by light from town, the sky was fortunately clear. Meteors could be seen racing past the Milky Way,...

 

Okinawa raises alert to highest level and extends the prefecture’s state of emergency

Okinawa raises alert to highest level and extends the prefecture’s state of emergency

August 13, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

Okinawa Prefecture announced August 13 that they were raising their COVID-19 alert level to the highest of their 4 levels, “rampant spread,” and have extended Okinawa’s state of emergency, originally scheduled to expire August 15, through...

Drones help news reporting on Schwab and impacts of military exercises

Drones help news reporting on Schwab and impacts of military exercises

August 8, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ryukyu Shimpo utilizes drones to report on U.S. military base issues in Okinawa, such as functional enhancements made to the bases, and the extents of any damages caused by the military. Specifically, drones flying over the waters near Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago...

White flowers glow against the Kerama blue as the harlequin glorybowers start to bloom in Tokashiki

White flowers glow against the Kerama blue as the harlequin glorybowers start to bloom in Tokashiki

August 10, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Special Correspondent Hideaki Yoneda

Tokashiki – With summer reaching its peak, the...

Editorial: We must not concede to military use of Shimojishima Airport

August 11, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

A meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party National Defense Parliamentary Group saw many participants put forth the idea that the Self-Defense Forces should be allowed to use Shimojishima Airport in Miyakojima City for the purpose of strengthening defense of the...

Fountain pen found in trenches returned to owner after 75 years: “It was a gift from my father when I passed the high school entrance exam”

Fountain pen found in trenches returned to owner after 75 years: “It was a gift from my father when I passed the high school entrance exam”

August 4, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Ryota Nakamura

Recently, the owner of a fountain pen engraved with the name “Eiko Kakazu,” which was discovered in the 24th Division Headquarters trenches in Yoza, Itoman by a member of the group “Okinawa Ari no Kai,” which works on collecting...

MOD designates U.S. military bases, such as Camp Schwab, for first time as subject to Drone Act

MOD designates U.S. military bases, such as Camp Schwab, for first time as subject to Drone Act

August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

On August 7 the Ministry of Defense (MOD) designated 15 U.S. military bases, such as Camp Schwab and Kadena Air Base, as sites subject to the Drone Act, under which the flight of drones is prohibited. This is the first time U.S. military bases have...

Medical association asks Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to exercise “patience” this summer

Medical association asks Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to exercise “patience” this summer

August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Medical Association held a press conference on the morning of August 7 and requested Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to refrain from returning home during the Japanese Bon holiday season this year, which begins on August 13. President Tetsuyoshi...

Two new coronavirus cases confirmed on Iriomote Island, including one town employee, and insufficient healthcare on the island has its residents scared

Two new coronavirus cases confirmed on Iriomote Island, including one town employee, and insufficient healthcare on the island has its residents scared

August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Taketomi – The Okinawa Prefectural Office in Yaeyama and the Yaeyama Health Department have disclosed two new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Iriomote Island in Yaeyama, a boy in his teens and a man in his fifties. The two new cases were not included in the report...

Fifteen Shisa statues at Ginowan City Hall wear masks in spite of the blazing sun

Fifteen Shisa statues at Ginowan City Hall wear masks in spite of the blazing sun

August 6, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ginowan – At the entrance of Ginowan City Hall on Route 330, fifteen shisa statues, which guard against evil, have donned masks to promote prevention of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The shisa statues wear their masks and watch over the people of the city....

PCR testing in Naha meant to be limited to Matsuyama ends one hour early after an unexpected number of people arrived, causing long lines and traffic congestion

PCR testing in Naha meant to be limited to Matsuyama ends one hour early after an unexpected number of people arrived, causing long lines and traffic congestion

August 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the first day of the prefectural emergency declared by Okinawa August 1, 58 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed as the spread of the disease shows no signs of slowing down. In Naha, where PCR testing is being conducted, large numbers of people concerned they...