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Three candidates to run in the gubernatorial election

Three candidates to run in the gubernatorial election

July 24, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 23, Naha Mayor Takeshi Onaga stated that he would announce during a regular session of the city council slated to be held on September 8 that he will run in the gubernatorial election. The election is to be held on November 16. He will make his declaration when answering a question from the representative of the Shimpu faction of the Liberal Democratic Party in the city council. Meanwhile, on July 23, staff of the incumbent governor Hirokazu Nakaima,...

 

US Marines to expand special-use airspace over Central Training Area in Okinawa

US Marines to expand special-use airspace over Central Training Area in Okinawa

July 17, 2014 Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to raise the vertical limit of the restricted airspace for aircraft training over the Central Training Area in Okinawa. This training area is near Camp Hansen in Kin and Ginoza, and Camp...

Transfer of Aerial refuelling aircraft from Futenma to Iwakuni starts

Transfer of Aerial refuelling aircraft from Futenma to Iwakuni starts

July 16, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 15, the United States Marine Corps in Okinawa started moving 15 KC-130 aerial refuelling tankers to the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture from Futenma Air Station.

The first batch of the two aircraft left for Iwakuni on the...

Government to set up a special team at Okinawa’s police headquarters to tighten security for Henoko

July 15, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The government has instructed the National Police Agency to strengthen security surrounding protests over seabed drilling in Henoko, Nago, where U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is due to be relocated. The Okinawa Prefectural Police plans to set up a public...

Aerial refuelling aircraft to train in Okinawa after redeployment to Iwakuni

26 June, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The United States Marine Corps in Okinawa will move 15 KC-130 aerial refuelling tankers to the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture from Futenma Air Station. The U.S. military stated that they would continue to carry out training exercises of...

Okinawan business community supporting Naha Mayor Onaga’s bid for governor

June 13, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the run-up to the prefectural gubernatorial election this fall, members of the Okinawan business community, including chairman of Kanehide Holdings Co., Ltd Morimasa Goya and CEO of Kariyushi Co., Ltd Chokei Taira held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural...

Vice defense minister asks for mayor’s cooperation to deploy ground force on Miyako Islands

June 13, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Ryota Takeda met with Miyakojima City Mayor Toshihiko Shimoji on June 12 at the city hall. Takeda asked for the mayor’s cooperation to deploy a security force of the Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on the islands....

Former Prime Minister Hatoyama: “Okinawa will serve as a hub for peace in East Asia”

Former Prime Minister Hatoyama:

June 1, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The East Asian Community Research Institute held a symposium to commemorate the opening of the Ryukyu Okinawa Center in Naha at a hotel in Naha. About 700 people, including scholars and peace advocates, took part in the May 31 symposium. They discussed the potential...

Government to expand restricted area for fishing two kilometers off the coast of Henoko

Government to expand restricted area for fishing two kilometers off the coast of Henoko

May 30, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The government will expand the restricted area for fishing near the planned relocation site for Futenma Air Base.

The government regulates fishing in the water surrounding the relocation site at Henoko based on the Restriction on Operation of Fishing Vessels...

U.S. military to station drones at Kadena Air Base in 2017

May 26, 2014 Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.

In a conference held in Washington D.C., U.S. Navy Admiral Jonathan Greenert stated the U.S. military plans to station unmanned aerial surveillance aircraft Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton in Okinawa from 2017.

The...

Okinawa Defense Bureau to compensate Nago Fisher’s Union with 3.6 billion yen

May 23, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 22, the Okinawa Defense Bureau signed an agreement with the Nago Fisher’s Union. The bureau will pay about 3.6 billion yen in compensation for reclaiming the sea around Henoko in Nago for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Hirofumi...