Archive for February, 2022

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Okinawa Vice Governor objects to USMC training being carried out at Naha Military Port

Okinawa Vice Governor objects to USMC training being carried out at Naha Military Port

February 15, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Regarding the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa carrying out training involving aircraft taking off from and landing at the Naha Port Facility (Naha Military Port), the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) invited Director Isao Ono of the Okinawa Defense Bureau and Ambassador in charge of Okinawan Affairs Naofumi Hashimoto of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit the Prefectural Office on February 15, and called for the U.S. military to completely...

 

Pumice stone removal costs expected to exceed 1.6 billion yen, not including damage to fishing and tourism industries

Pumice stone removal costs expected to exceed 1.6 billion yen, not including damage to fishing and tourism industries

February 18, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Chie Tome

 

Okinawa Prefecture announced February 17 that the cost of the damage caused by the large incursion of floating pumice stone caused by an undersea earthquake near the Ogasawara islands, based on the cost to collect and transport...

Kudaka Island asks residents to stay home and visitors to stay away due to spread of COVID-19

Kudaka Island asks residents to stay home and visitors to stay away due to spread of COVID-19

February 18, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Sanemichi Kinjo

 

Kudaka Island, Nanjo – COVID-19 cases are increasing among the 220-person population of Kudaka Island in Chinen, Nanjo. According to a town representative, there were six new positive cases on the island on February 16,...

Video: The glistening emerald green asa is in peak harvest at Kitanakagusuku

February 17, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Naoya Oshiro

The algae farm just off the shores of Misaki, Kitanakagusuku, has welcomed peak asa (sea lettuce) season. On February 16, farmers flocked out to sea to harvest the asa they carefully cultivated.

 

The...

Editorial: The petition to protect war-dead remains should be quickly passed into law

February 12, 2022 Ryukyu Shimp

 

Takamatsu Gushiken, who represents the war-dead remains recovery volunteer organization “Gamafuya,” has submitted a petition to the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly calling for the establishment of regulations to preserve the remains of those who...

Okinawa Fair at Taiwan’s Heping Island brings awamori and brown sugar to locals

Okinawa Fair at Taiwan’s Heping Island brings awamori and brown sugar to locals

January 29, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Wu Li Jun

 

The Okinawa Industry Promotion Public Corporation’s Taipei office and the Heping Island Park in Keelung City, Taiwan, jointly organized the Gòng Dǎo Ji Okinawa Fair to promote cultural and economic exchange between Okinawa...

206 local government assemblies have passed written opinion demanding land from Okinawa’s southern region not be excavated for use

206 local government assemblies have passed written opinion demanding land from Okinawa’s southern region not be excavated for use

February 10, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Masatoshi Inafuku

 

As of February 9, 206 city and town assemblies across Japan, around 10% of all such assemblies nation-wide, have adopted an official written opinion stating that ground from the southern part of Okinawa’s main island,...

(Video Included) Ueda Ugan Performed at Ukinju Hainju to Pray for Health and Abundant Harvest

(Video Included) Ueda Ugan Performed at Ukinju Hainju to Pray for Health and Abundant Harvest

February 11, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Sanemichi Kinjo

 

On February 10, the Ueda Ugan (rice planting festival) was held at Ukinju Hainju in Hyakuna Tamagusuku in Nanjo, which is said to be the birthplace of rice cultivation in the Ryukyu Islands. The Ueda Ugan is...

Wagtail visits a bird watcher at his car in Kin while visiting Okinawa for the winter

Wagtail visits a bird watcher at his car in Kin while visiting Okinawa for the winter

February 8, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Hideki Matsudo

 

Kin – Gray wagtails are migrating to the fields of Kin for the winter. On January 24, wild bird enthusiast Chuya Yambaru captured an image on one that had stopped to rest on the side mirror of his car. Yambaru said, “I...

Ishigaki mayor stresses importance of Senkaku island survey as opposition voices protest

Ishigaki mayor stresses importance of Senkaku island survey as opposition voices protest

 

February 2, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Kenshiro Nishime

 

Ishigaki – Ishigaki mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama, who went to survey the Senkaku island chain on a boat with others including Tokai University professor Yoshihiko Yamada (marine affairs) on January 31, said...

The brilliant blooming of rhododendron flowers in the rain heralds in spring in Ginoza Village

The brilliant blooming of rhododendron flowers in the rain heralds in spring in Ginoza Village

February 4, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By John Matsumoto

 

February 4 marked the start of spring, one of the 24 solar terms of the lunar calendar. This is when the cold alleviates and spring begins. Due to a weather front on February 3, the Okinawa region had cloudy and rainy weather...