Archive for December, 2021

Recent News

Okinawa eyes partial shutdown, governor Tamaki calls for prevention measures over New Year’s as Okinawa confirms more coronavirus cases

Okinawa eyes partial shutdown, governor Tamaki calls for prevention measures over New Year’s as Okinawa confirms more coronavirus cases

December 28, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Teppei Ikeda and Yukito Toyama

 

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki gave a press conference on December 27, where he spoke on increased cases of COVID-19 in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island, as well as the spread of the omicron variant largely in and around U.S. military bases, stressing, “we are at the start of a new trend,” and once again asked Okinawans to thoroughly adhere to coronavirus prevention measures over the New...

 

Okinawa’s development budget for 2022 falls below 300-billion-yen, Governor Tamaki decries “a very regrettable way to start Okinawa’s 50th year since the reversion”

Okinawa’s development budget for 2022 falls below 300-billion-yen, Governor Tamaki decries “a very regrettable way to start Okinawa’s 50th year since the reversion”

December 23 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Masaaki Umeda

 

Upon hearing the news on December 22 that the 2022 Okinawa Development Budget would fall below 300 billion yen for the first time in 10 years, dropping 33 billion yen to 268 billion, Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki made a statement,...

Mizuho distillery debuts Yonaguni Rum, second of eight islands series

Mizuho distillery debuts Yonaguni Rum, second of eight islands series

December 21, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Wu Li Jun

 

The Naha City-based distillery Mizuho Shuzo announced its newest creation, the Yonaguni Rum, which is made using brown sugar from Yonaguni Island. A limited quantity of 800 bottles will be marketed between December 22 and January...

U.S. military has not required pre-departure PCR testing for servicemembers coming to bases in Japan since September, has permitted movement between Bases During Periods of Activity Restrictions

U.S. military has not required pre-departure PCR testing for servicemembers coming to bases in Japan since September, has permitted movement between Bases During Periods of Activity Restrictions

December 24, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Manato Akira and Yosuke Anri

 

On December 23, a representative of the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) revealed to the Ryukyu Shimpo that PCR testing requirements when leaving the United States were lifted in September of this year for...

Symposium addresses “Taiwan emergency” and increasing military fortification of Okinawa

Symposium addresses “Taiwan emergency” and increasing military fortification of Okinawa

December 20, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Chie Tome

On December 19 the East Asian Community Institute Ryukyu Okinawa Center held the “Anti-Crisis on the Eve of ‘the Southwest Shift Taiwan Emergency’ War” symposium at Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Naha City. Military journalist Makoto...

Base-worker labor union demands U.S. military strengthen quarantine measures as the omicron-variant spreads amongst base workers

Base-worker labor union demands U.S. military strengthen quarantine measures as the omicron-variant spreads amongst base workers

December 21, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Ryota Shimabukuro

 

Central Okinawa – A large cluster of COVID-19 infections has been spreading through the U.S. military base Camp Hansen, and some of the workers on the base are the first confirmed cases of the “omicron” variant...

Diplomatic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom and pre-war news articles now available in digital archive

Diplomatic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom and pre-war news articles now available in digital archive

December 16, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

At 9 am on December 14, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education launched its digital archive containing the Rekidai Hōan, an official compilation of diplomatic documents of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The archive also contains other historical...

Peace Memorial Statue undergoes “purification” cleaning for new year

Peace Memorial Statue undergoes

December 16, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Riko Higa

 

On December 15 at the Peace Memorial Hall in Mabuni, Itoman City, the Okinawa Peace Memorial Statue underwent “purification” in which it was cleared of dust. In an average year, about 30 people such as bus tour guides...

Orix pitcher Miyagi wins rookie of the year, the second-straight Okinawan to do so, with Taira winning the previous year

Orix pitcher Miyagi wins rookie of the year, the second-straight Okinawan to do so, with Taira winning the previous year

December 15, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The NPB Awards, which recognizes the season’s award-winners in professional baseball, took place December 15 in Tokyo, and the Pacific League rookie of the year award (rookie king) was awarded to Orix pitcher Hiroya Miyagi, 20, who comes from...

In Okinawa, a summer day in December; 26.7 degrees in Iriomote-jima, 26.1 degrees in Naha

In Okinawa, a summer day in December; 26.7 degrees in Iriomote-jima, 26.1 degrees in Naha

December 17, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

In Okinawa, December 16 was as hot as a summer day. Temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius were recorded at 18 of 25 observation sites. The warm weather was caused by a southerly wind blowing into Okinawa from a high-pressure system in southern...

On the 3rd anniversary of the start of Henoko construction, Okinawa residents assemble at the gates of Camp Schwab and on the water to call for a halt to land filling in Henoko

On the 3rd anniversary of the start of Henoko construction, Okinawa residents assemble at the gates of Camp Schwab and on the water to call for a halt to land filling in Henoko

December 14, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

December 14 will mark the third anniversary since the Japanese government started land reclamation along the coast of Henoko, part of the construction involved for relocating MCAS Futenma to new facilities in Henoko, Nago. To mark the anniversary,...