Friday
July 18,2025

Ryukyu Shimpo – Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news

Independent investigation on toxic PFAS levels in six municipalities underway

May 27, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Shugo Asato, Wakana Aragaki

High levels of PFAS (organofluorine compounds), which are known to be harmful to the human body, were found in tap water at the Chatan water treatment plant in Okinawa Prefecture. In response, a coordinating committee...

Naha Airport to partially reopen international travel routes in June, lifting a two-year tourism restriction

May 27, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Yosuke Anri

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on May 26 that Naha Airport’s international travel routes, which have been suspended in full since March of 2020, would reopen sometime in mid-June. As part of the easing of border control...

1,000 people rally in Tokyo for protection of the constitution and no base in Henoko

May 27, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Manato Akira

A rally called “construction of a new base in Henoko is not permitted and Okinawa and Japan are covered by the constitution, in Tokyo”, opposing the construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) in Henoko,...

Walking tour of Koza resumes after three-year hiatus, including the taco stand featured in the movie “Miracle City Koza”

May 23, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Ryota Shimabukuro

Okinawa City – The Okinawa Multicultural Society Promotion Association (run by Okinawa City) restarted their walking tours through the history of Koza on May 2 after a three-year hiatus. The tours had been paused for that time due to...

Gov. Tamaki scales back Okinawa Memorial Day service as Covid cases hit 2,307

May 20, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Shohei Tsukazaki

On May 19, the Okinawa prefectural government’s Covid-19 task force gathered and announced that the Covid alert issued on Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island will remain in effect through May 26.

Following...

“Miracle Hydrangeas” bloom for the first time three years after planting at Nakijin Castle Ruins, a symbol of recovery from the Tohoku earthquake

May 20, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Kenta Masuda

Nakijin – The “Miracle Hydrangeas” planted at Nakijin Castle Ruins, which were distributed throughout Japan as a symbol of recovery from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, bloomed for the first time at the end of April....

In 7 months 17 rats of endangered species designated as natural monument accidentally killed

May 20, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Shugo Asato

Since the beginning of 2022, the occurrences of vehicles running over Ryukyu long-tailed giant rat (Diplothrix legata) has rapidly increased. The Ryukyu long-tailed giant rat is a nationally designated natural monument and an endangered...

“Towards a peaceful and abundant Okinawa,” Governor Tamaki does not refer to Henoko in address for the 50th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese control

May 16, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Teppei Ikeda

On May 15, which marks the 50th anniversary of when Okinawa was reverted to Japanese control in 1972, Okinawa Prefecture and the central Japanese government co-hosted the “50th Anniversary of the Okinawa Reversion Ceremony,”...

Okinawa’s military presence still exceeds Japan’s—Interview with Gov. Tamaki on reversion: economy “halfway there”

May 10, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Masakazu Umeda

On May 9, Governor Denny Tamaki gave a joint media interview at the Okinawa Prefectural Office to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan. He remarked that while Okinawa accounts for 0.6%...

Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Approves Written Opinion on 50th Anniversary of Okinawa’s Reversion

May 13, 2022  Ryukyu Shimpo

On the morning of May 13, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly held a special session and unanimously approved a proposed written opinion and resolution related to the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan. The written opinion coincides with...