December 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
A welcome ceremony for two Asian elephants, Tonsai and Buntoon, from Tohoku Safari Park in Fukushima was held on December 17 at the Okinawa Zoo & Museum. The elephants are staying in Okinawa to see out the winter. The curator of the zoo, Masaru Takada, greeted visitors, saying, “Please enjoy yourselves and learn many things with them.” Children climbed up the elephants’ backs and fed them carrots. The elephants will stay in the zoo until next...
November 25, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
The temperature dropped in Okinawa as cold air covered the area on November 24, the same day the first snow for the season was observed in Tokyo. The air temperature dropped to lower than the previous day in all 28 temperature observation stations in the prefecture....
October 18, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
The national Ishigaki Island astronomical observatory succeeded in capturing images of a rainbow that appeared in the moonlight at 7 p.m. on October 16. The astronomical observatory explained the occurrence as “a rare phenomenon that requires a dark night...
October 1, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
On September 11, Ishigaki Island Coastal Leisure Safety Council examined the problem of bleached coral, using a small-sized drone in Yonehara Beach at the north shore of Ishigaki City. The survey revealed that 80 to 90 percent of coral filmed was bleached. Some...
September 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
A non-profit organization called shizen taiken gakko (Nature Experience School) Okinawa branch in Yaese Town held a clean-up event at a battle site in Iriyuji-gama cave in Gushikami, Yaese Town, on August 21. Twenty-seven participants from Gushikami Junior...
August 29, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
For three days from the 16th to 19th of August, Shichigachi mura odori was held at Henoko Exchange Plaza in Henoko, Nago City. More than 100 residents performed traditional dances and gave thanks for fertility.
Shichigachi mura udui is held every three years...
August 25, 2016 Hideaki Yoneda correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo
An eighty-year-old fisherman in Tokashiki Village has practiced skin-dive fishing on his home island for more than 50 years. His name is Takemitsu Shinzato, a member of the Tokashiki Fisheries Cooperative, and he is known as a master...
August 24, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
Ryukyu uranami janome, a butterfly species endemic to Okinawa prefecture and considered to be at risk of extinction, was found on the forest road next to the N1 zone gate to the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area on August 23. The area is a planned site...
August 15, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
On August 14, the Seventh All Okinawa Bullfighting Summer Tournament was held at the Ishikawa Multipurpose Dome in Uruma City. The event decided the middleweight (less than 970 kilograms) and lightweight (less than 850 kilograms) champions of Okinawa’s fighting...
July 28, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Chie Tome and Chosho Yakabe
The forest in Yambaru, where the U.S. and Japanese governments plan to build new military helipads, is one of Japan’s most treasured nature spots home to more than six thousand kinds of rare and new species of animals and plants....
July 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
A Swedish restaurant named “SMAKAKA (Småkaka)” opened in Kadekaru, Kume-jima this April, providing a space for the community to socialize. The owner is 53-year old Anna Edberg who moved to the island from Sweden. Local women provide assistance at the restaurant...
Webcam(Kokusai Street)