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Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives releases “Shuri Castle Badge” for sale, saying they, “want to build momentum for reconstruction”

Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives releases “Shuri Castle Badge” for sale, saying they, “want to build momentum for reconstruction”

October 15, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Association of Corporate Executives (OACE) have created a “Shuri Castle Badge” in an effort to aid the reconstruction of Shuri Castle, which burned down in October of last year, and the badge is now available to purchase. The badge depicts an illustration of the castle, and adopts the 17-hue color scheme of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) color wheel. The OACE plans to contribute the proceeds to the reconstruction of Shuri Castle,...

 

Tokyo Bus to launch two new routes in Okinawa, connecting central areas such as the Airport and Naha to the southern regions, claim they are taking a “long-term view” with regards to COVID-19

Tokyo Bus to launch two new routes in Okinawa, connecting central areas such as the Airport and Naha to the southern regions, claim they are taking a “long-term view” with regards to COVID-19

August 25, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tokyo Bus (headquarters: Tokyo; Harunari Nishimura, CEO) which operates tour buses and regular routes all over Japan, is opening up two transit bus routes in Okinawa. Starting September 14, they will be taking over a line from Chubu Kanko Service (based in Tomigusku)...

Foreign investors looking to buy up hotels in Okinawa as corona-related losses force many to sell

Foreign investors looking to buy up hotels in Okinawa as corona-related losses force many to sell

June 9, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yuki Nakamura

The tourism industry took a big hit from the effects of COVID-19, and there are increasing stories of those who are looking to sell their hotels despite the drop in price, as well as foreign firms and investors who are looking to purchase lodging...

Sunflowers at night: chrysanthemum farmer grows 50,000 sunflowers as a secondary crop

Sunflowers at night: chrysanthemum farmer grows 50,000 sunflowers as a secondary crop

May 17, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yuki Nakamura

At Sunset Farm Okinawa in Gima, Yomitan, 50,000 sunflowers planted in artificially-lit chrysanthemum fields have blossomed, bringing new scenery to the farm. To make use of the farmland after the chrysanthemums have shipped, sunflower seeds...

As Okinawan mangoes and pineapples begin to ripen, a call goes out for locals to consume the harvest to overcome the headwinds created by the coronavirus

As Okinawan mangoes and pineapples begin to ripen, a call goes out for locals to consume the harvest to overcome the headwinds created by the coronavirus

May 5, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Erina Ishii

 

Okinawan mangoes and pineapples are popular all throughout Japan as high-class gifts. However, as the coronavirus pandemic will now extend later into the year, anxieties have arisen around slumping sales in the summer. Farmers, who...

Large amounts of omiyage in danger of being discarded due to decrease in tourism, and sellers are sending out an SOS “We need Okinawan’s to eat these, now more than ever.”

Large amounts of omiyage in danger of being discarded due to decrease in tourism, and sellers are sending out an SOS “We need Okinawan’s to eat these, now more than ever.”

April 26, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Eriko Tamaki

The effects of the continued COVID-19 pandemic have rippled out to effect Okinawan-produced goods. Since almost all omiyage stores and other tourist facilities are currently closed for business, there has been a steep decline in sales of souvenirs...

Orion to cease production of 9% alcohol by volume “Watta Strong” chuhai due to health concerns

Orion to cease production of 9% alcohol by volume “Watta Strong” chuhai due to health concerns

April 23, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Eriko Tamaki

Orion Breweries, Ltd., (Keiju Hayase, Representative Director andPresident), announced April 22 that they would cease production of the high-alcohol version of their chuhai beverage, “Watta Strong.”

The high alcohol content in the...

Naha Airport’s Runway No. 2 open for use, first flight to land greeted by firehose arch

Naha Airport’s Runway No. 2 open for use, first flight to land greeted by firehose arch

March 26, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Naha Airport’s No. 2 runway, built by filling in land off the coast, opened for use March 26.

The runway’s first arrival, a flight from Skymark Airlines, touched down at 8:05 a.m., and was greeted by a water arch provided by a pair of firetrucks on either...

JTA to suspend 60 flight routes due to reduced demand during coronavirus pandemic

JTA to suspend 60 flight routes due to reduced demand during coronavirus pandemic

March 21, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Japan Transocean Air (JTA) announced their plan to suspend 60 flight routes from Naha, Fukuoka, Miyako, and Ishigaki from March 29 through April 5.

This decision was made due to reduced demand from passengers amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The...

NIAC predicts employment could fall by 7,690 jobs this year due to decrease in tourism from coronavirus

March 6, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Nansei shoto Industrial Advancement Center (NIAC, Mitsuru Omine, chairman), announced March 5 their estimation for the effect the coronavirus would have on Okinawa’s economy.

The organization predicts that if from February through May, the number of...

The disappearance of foreigners from the streets due to coronavirus continues to assail Okinawa’s economy, with travel agency sales – which rely heavily on Chinese patronage – dropping to almost “zero”

The disappearance of foreigners from the streets due to coronavirus continues to assail Okinawa’s economy, with travel agency sales – which rely heavily on Chinese patronage – dropping to almost “zero”

February 26, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

As the coronavirus (COVID19) continues to spread over the world, including throughout Japan, the prospects for Okinawa meeting their goal of bringing 10 million tourists to Okinawa this year is looking bleak, and the effects are starting to be felt all over Okinawa’s...