Archive for the Editorial Category

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Editorial: It has been one year since the start of land reclamation in Henoko. Japan should end construction Henoko and close MCAS Futenma

December 14, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Does the Japanese government consider Okinawans as Japanese? Their extreme arrogance fill us with these doubts.

December 14 marks one year since the government started reclaiming land along the coast of Henoko, with the goal of building new base facilities in Henoko, Nago.

Only two-and-a-half months prior, Denny Tamaki defeated his opponent in the gubernatorial election by 80,000 votes as the base-opposing candidate.

To ignore the will...

 

Editorial:Testu Nakamura Killed – Wishing to Carry on His Legacy of Nonviolence

December 6, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tetsu Nakamura, a physician and representative of Peshawar-kai in Afghanistan, was shot by an armed group and died. Peshawar-kai is a non-governmental organization working to aid Afghanistan’s recovery. Nakamura was a champion of nonviolence and worked endlessly...

Editorial: Okinawans should join together in rebuilding Shuri Castle

November 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Shuri Castle has burned down.

This treasure in the hearts of Okinawans which was rebuilt after its destruction in the Battle of Okinawa by the efforts of a large number of people committed to restoring the symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom destroyed in the...

Editorial: Second ruling decision for Kadena noise pollution

September 12, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

It is hard to call it a ruling that addressed the suffering of the residents who are forced to live next to the U.S. military base.

During the third round of appeals to a lawsuit, the Fukuoka High Court Naha Branch rejected the request to suspend flights...

Editorial: Record number of constitutional court case disposals is a foolish abandonment of future reexamination

August 7, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Even though it will be thought of as treating human rights carelessly, there is nothing to be done about it.

Already, courts all over Japan have thrown out the records of a majority of important post-war civil suits that debated constitutionality.

Of...

Editorial: U.S. military denies entry to base preventing essential right conduct surveys

July 12, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The current situation wherein we cannot even conduct an investigation into environmental problems that could very well threaten the lives and livelihoods of Okinawans is one that we cannot approve of. The Japanese government must quickly pursue an effective policy...

Editorial: Sixty years after Miyamori Elementary School plane crash, the dangerous conditions have not changed

June 30, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The children were passing out milk for school lunch, when suddenly they were bombarded by thunderous noise and balls of fire. It has been 60 years since a U.S. military jet crashed into Miyamori Elementary School in Ishikawa City (now Uruma), killing 18 people and...

Editorial: UN special rapporteur indicates freedom of expression in Japan in danger; infringing on freedom of expression is inexcusable

June 7, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Freedom of expression is in a crisis in Japan.

In a new report released by David Kaye, the United Nation’s special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, is demanding that the Japanese government respect...

Editorial: Revised drone law is bad legislation that infringes on the right to information

May 18, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

A terrible law which conceals the reality of the U.S. bases in Okinawa has been passed. An amendment to a drone regulation law that prohibits small unmanned drones from flying over U.S. military bases in Japan and Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) facilities was recently...

Editorial: Prime Minister Abe’s stance on constitutional amendments dangerously belittles the constitution

May 8, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

In a video message released by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo May 3, he announced his intention to revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, including an explicit reference to the Japanese Self Defense Forces (JSDF), and stated that he was sticking to the goal of carrying...

Editorial: Aircraft noise from Kadena leads to health issues and even death

March 14, Ryukyu Shimpo

Shocking data has once again indicated just how dangerous U.S. Air Force Kedena Air Base’s aircraft noise is, along with just how inhumane the current base operations are.

It is estimated that 17,454 residents from the Kadena Air Base area suffer from severe...