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Chubu Photo Studio changes hands to new generation in hope of keeping Koza landmark present “for another 50 years”

Chubu Photo Studio changes hands to new generation in hope of keeping Koza landmark present “for another 50 years”

February 20, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Takahiro Kina

 

Okinawa City – On February 6 in central Okinawa, Chubu Shashinkan (Chubu Photo Studio) had a passing of the torch ceremony, with Yutaka Tokeshi, 22, officially taking over the store from its previous owner, Yoshinobu Kuba, 79. The photo studio, which is on Palmyra Street in Koza, opened in 1971 in what was then called Hinode Street, and for half a century has been photographing things like town festivals and people’s...

　

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,...

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...

The “No More Okinawan War, Life is a Treasure” committee forms to oppose the militarization of Okinawa, pledges Okinawa “will not become a battlefield again”

The “No More Okinawan War, Life is a Treasure” committee forms to oppose the militarization of Okinawa, pledges Okinawa “will not become a battlefield again”

February 1, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Yuki Karimata

 

The “No More Okinawan War, Nuchi du Takara (Life is a Treasure)” committee, which opposes the U.S.-Japan joint defense plan to militarize the Nansei archipelago so that the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and U.S. military...

Coronavirus pandemic in Okinawa “looks to be past its peak” says MHLW advisory board chairman

Coronavirus pandemic in Okinawa “looks to be past its peak” says MHLW advisory board chairman

January 27, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Yosuke Anri

 

Tokyo – Takaji Wakita, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare coronavirus advisory board chairman, announced January 26 that the coronavirus pandemic in Okinawa “appears to have passed its peak.” He indicated that...

Okinawa to be nice and warm through the end of January, with some days hitting highs of 25° C

Okinawa to be nice and warm through the end of January, with some days hitting highs of 25° C

January 18, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Yuki Karimata

 

The Okinawa Meteorological Observatory announced in the “Early weather report concerning heat” that the Okinawa region would experience a gentle pressure system with high barometric pressure to the west, with a low-pressure...

Heron spotting hunting bugs after sugarcane harvest in Komesu, Itoman

Heron spotting hunting bugs after sugarcane harvest in Komesu, Itoman

January 14, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By John Matsumoto

 

On Okinawa’s main island and in the Yaeyama islands January 13, a high-pressure system from the Asian continent brought with it some chilly weather and a little rain. In the fields of Komesu, Itoman, where the sugarcane...

The streets of U.S. bases become ghost towns as restrictions on leaving residences begin, food and drink establishments hope for a “quick resolution”

The streets of U.S. bases become ghost towns as restrictions on leaving residences begin, food and drink establishments hope for a “quick resolution”

January 11, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

By Ryota ShimabukuroBy Ryota Shimabukuro [Central/Northern Okinawa] – Facing the spread of COVID-19 amongst U.S. service men and women stationed in Japan, restrictions against U.S. military personnel leaving their residence except for necessities...

As it enters its 50th year since the reversion, the monument built to commemorate it stands over an island closing a tumultuous 2021

As it enters its 50th year since the reversion, the monument built to commemorate it stands over an island closing a tumultuous 2021

December 31, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By John Matsumoto

 

Disrupted by the coronavirus and damaged by pumice created by an undersea volcanic explosion, Okinawa finally looks to end a tumultuous 2021.

2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa being reverted...

Okinawa eyes partial shutdown, governor Tamaki calls for prevention measures over New Year’s as Okinawa confirms more coronavirus cases

Okinawa eyes partial shutdown, governor Tamaki calls for prevention measures over New Year’s as Okinawa confirms more coronavirus cases

December 28, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Teppei Ikeda and Yukito Toyama

 

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki gave a press conference on December 27, where he spoke on increased cases of COVID-19 in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island, as well as the spread of the omicron variant...

Base-worker labor union demands U.S. military strengthen quarantine measures as the omicron-variant spreads amongst base workers

Base-worker labor union demands U.S. military strengthen quarantine measures as the omicron-variant spreads amongst base workers

December 21, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Ryota Shimabukuro

 

Central Okinawa – A large cluster of COVID-19 infections has been spreading through the U.S. military base Camp Hansen, and some of the workers on the base are the first confirmed cases of the “omicron” variant...