Archive for January, 2021
Recent News
January 15, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 14, Governor Denny Tamaki held an emergency press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office. He shared that cases of the novel coronavirus in Okinawa are increasing, mostly in young people, and that estimates suggest that the prefecture is likely to see 500 to 800 new cases per week going forward. Furthermore, general hospital bed utilization has exceeded 100% in Chubu on the Main Island, where coronavirus patients are being admitted....
January 12, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Naoki Isa
In order to support those who have fallen on hard times due to the coronavirus pandemic, the volunteer organization “Yuimaru no Kai” has been running a food drive twice per week at Makishi Park in Naha. Group representative Naomi Kadekaru,...
January 9, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
In the latest issue of U.S. military aircraft repeatedly flying at low altitudes around Kerama Islands, Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Minister indicated their approval of the U.S. military training outside of the training area. In response, the...
January 8, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
Recently, Mr. Hiroshi Ueno, a teacher at Okinawa Shogaku Junior and Senior High Schools, presented “Lessons for Life,” speaking to third-year junior high school students about his own experience battling cancer. Ueno was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in...
January 7, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft, among other types of aircraft, flew over Ginowan City approaching from the south and landed on the runway of Futenma Air Station, even after 10:00 p.m., on January 5 and 6. According to noise...
January 6, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hirokazu Otsubo
The Zamami Whale Watching Association (ZWWA) reopened the whale watching season December 27, launching their first tour on December 29. The postponed tours on the 28th due to poor weather. On December 22, there were reports a whale sighting...
January 7, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hideaki Yoneda
At around 2 p.m. on December 27, Yuriko Nishiura, manager of the dive shop Shima Ashibi in Tokashiki Village, successfully photographed a giant manta ray swimming at a depth of about four meters around Hanari Island, an uninhabited island...
January 5, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 4, the Okinawa Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced that the hikanzakura cherry trees in Naha started blooming on that day and that the plum trees had started blooming on December 31, 2020. The hikanzakura...
January 5, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 4, the first working day of 2021, Governor Denny Tamaki delivered his New Year’s address at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office. In his speech, the governor positioned alleviating child poverty as “the most important policy for the prefectural...
January 3, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
In order to support day laborers and those in need over the New Year holiday, the Okinawa – Shuri Day Laborer’s Union (Okinichiro) handed out food, hand warmers, and clothing at Yogi park in Naha from December 31 through January 2. Over those...
January 1, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
A new year is upon us. The year 2021 will be the time for Okinawa to decide its future direction, as the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japanese rule is nearing.
Fifty years ago, in November 1971, the Ryukyu government drew...