May 18, 2013 Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
On May 16, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki denounced the remarks made by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto regarding the so-called comfort women during the Second World War. “Mayor Hashimoto’s comments were outrageous and offensive,” Psaki told reporters at a regular press briefing.
Mayor Hashimoto, who is also co-leader of Japan’s Restoration Party, said that sexual servitude by women was “necessary”...
May 4, 2013 Hideki Matsudo of Ryukyu Shimpo
There has been ongoing tension between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands, which are administered as part of Okinawa. The Japanese government emphasizes the Japan-U.S. alliance as a diplomatic cornerstone and strives to gain the support of the...
May 11, 2013 Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
Maj. Gen. James Kessler, commander of the Marine Corps Installations Command, told a Senate hearing, “We will be at Futenma for probably the next 10 to 15 years.” On May 9, at a subcommittee meeting of the Senate...
April 30, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
With such a large turnout at the rally protesting against the central government’s celebration of the date of restoration of Japan’s sovereignty on April 28, the rally’s executive committee have decided to send a written resolution to Prime Minister Shinzo...
April 24, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 22, during a trip to the United States, Susumu Matayoshi, the head of the Executive Office of the Governor, met Christopher Johnstone, the Pentagon director for Northeast Asia, and Marc Knapper, director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the Department...
April 14, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
It was announced on April 13 that a Fisheries Agency patrol vessel has been deployed continually at Hirara Port in Miyako-jima this month. The agency also revealed their intention to constantly deploy two fisheries patrol vessels at Ishigaki-jima, but the date for...
April 22, 2013 Hideki Matsudo of Ryukyu Shimpo
Noam Chomsky, a linguistics professor who is one of the most outspoken critics of U.S. foreign policy, which he characterizes as hegemonic, gave an interview with the Ryukyu Shimpo on the U.S. military issue in Okinawa. He criticized the governments...
April 13, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 12, the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) asked the Okinawa Defense Bureau to make corrections to the written application that the central government has submitted to the Governor of Okinawa. This is part of the process for seeking approval for the landfill...
April 13, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 12, after Japan and Taiwan had signed a fishing agreement, delegation members from Okinawa, including Okinawa Vice-Governor Kurayoshi Takara, Shinko Kuniyoshi, the chairman of Okinawa Prefecture Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, and Hiroshi...
April 3 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 2, Ambassador Cheng Yonghua agreed to an exclusive interview with the Ryuyku Shimpo at the Chinese ambassador’s residence in Tokyo.
With regard to Japan-China relations having been negatively affected by the dispute over the Senkaku Islands, othewise...
April 2, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 1, Naha set itself up as the first core city in the prefecture. It becomes the country’s 42nd core city designated in this manner under the Local Autonomy Law of Japan. Core cities assume many roles normally carried out by prefectural governments. Naha...
