Archive for the Regional Category

Recent News

World’s oldest fishing hooks from 23,000 years ago discovered in Sakitari Cave in Okinawa

World’s oldest fishing hooks from 23,000 years ago discovered in Sakitari Cave in Okinawa

September 20, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The world’s oldest known fishing hooks from about 23,000 years ago were discovered at Sakitari Cave in the Valley of Gangala in Nanjo City, Okinawa. An infant’s bones from about 30,000 years ago were also found at the site. These are the second oldest human bones discovered in Japan, after bones of the Yamashita Cave People from around 36,500 years ago. Furthermore, it has become clear that people of the Paleolithic Era came to catch animals from oceans...

 

Nago sees 250 million yen surplus thanks to “hometown tax” donations from opponents of Henoko base

Nago sees 250 million yen surplus thanks to “hometown tax” donations from opponents of Henoko base

August 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Japan’s “hometown tax” system allows people to give donations to local government bodies of their choice and deduct that amount from their residents’ taxes. On August 6, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the amount that each local...

Final book published to complete four picture book series about Okinawan eisa dance

Final book published to complete four picture book series about Okinawan eisa dance

July 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

A series of picture books exemplifying the appeal of eisa in Okinawa City is now complete with the publishing of the fourth and final book, Dreams of Eisa. Copies of the book are being distributed to schools within Okinawa City. The other three titles in the series...

Dene Magna School students from England visit Okinawa

Dene Magna School students from England visit Okinawa

June 29, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

A reception ceremony was held for seven students and two teachers from Dene Magna School in England at Chatan Nirai Center in the Kuwae district of Chatan on June 25. They visited Okinawa as part of an exchange project between Chatan and the United Kingdom. About...

Happy birthday for elephant Ryuka

Happy birthday for elephant Ryuka

May 31, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 22 the 16th birthday party of popular Indian elephant Ryuka was celebrated at the Okinawa Zoo & Museum in the Goya district of Okinawa City. Children and parents who attended the party, sang the “Happy Birthday” song to help her celebrate. Ryuka, who...

Coral laying eggs in night sea of Tokashiki

Coral laying eggs in night sea of Tokashiki

May 30, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the night of May 25, local divers confirmed that coral spawned in Tokashiki Island. This occurs once during the period from May to July each year.

Around 10:20 p.m., staghorn coral and Montipora spawned at the same time, which illuminated the dark ocean....

Former marine returns to Okinawa with photograph exhibition and baseball glove

Former marine returns to Okinawa with photograph exhibition and baseball glove

May 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Dick Bruce, a 77-year-old former U.S. marine who was stationed for a 13-month duration on Camp Courtney in Uruma City in 1958-59, visited an elderly welfare center called Day Service RyCom in Okinawa City on May 7 to display his photographs and mingle with attendees....

Naha wins Naha Dragon Boat Festival’s official race for first time in three years

Naha wins Naha Dragon Boat Festival’s official race for first time in three years

May 5, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 5, the last day of the 42nd Naha Dragon Boat Festival, Naha’s team won the official race for the first time in three years. Many spectators gathered at the festival and cheered for the racers.

Teams from Tomari, Kume and Naha competed in the official...

Whale couple dance in Tokashiki

Whale couple dance in Tokashiki

April 20, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hideaki Yoneda

Yuriko Nishiura, the manager of a local diving shop in Tokashiki Village, managed to snap a photograph of humpback whales breeding under the water. She saw the whale couple moving their tail fins. Nishiura said, “I managed to catch...

Residents wish for safe navigation and a good season’s fishing at Sanguwacha in Uruma

Residents wish for safe navigation and a good season’s fishing at Sanguwacha in Uruma

April 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

For three days from April 9, which is March 3 on the Chinese calendar, Sanguwacha was held on Henza Island in Uruma City. Residents prayed for safe navigation and a good season’s fishing. On April 10, Todaiyu and Nanzamooi were held to kick off the season with...

Colorful flowers bloom during Urizun period in Tokashiki

Colorful flowers bloom during Urizun period in Tokashiki

April 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hideaki Yoneda

Tennoume (Ribes ambiguum) and Easter lilies bloomed in the wilderness of Tokashiki Island. The rupestrine flowers are found on the beach and bloom during the Urizun period from April to May.

Tennoume, which is also called Izasonsho,...