February 5, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On February 4, a traditional ritual known as satiparo was held at Uenonobaru in Miyako-jima. With a child wearing a carved wooden mask and performing as a visiting deity called pantu out in front, 14 women wrapped in vines walked around the community and drove away evil spirits. The satiparo ritual was designated as a significant intangible folk cultural asset in 1993. The event is held annually on the last day of the ox in December of the old calendar. Adult...
December 18, 2012 Ayako Sakaguchi of Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 8, at Oishi Park in Naha, people fond of goats, or hija as they are known in the Okinawan dialect, held a year-end party and was also designed to foster friendship among people in the community. Many people, including the...
December 20, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
On December 15, a mongoose was seen to cross the street at the Gusuku intersection in Nago. When the light turned green, the mongoose slowly started to cross while looking both ways for oncoming cars. The animal succeeded in crossing the road.
Some elementary...
December 11, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
The non-profit organization Okinawa Senior Association has started a community cafe called Ji & Ba in Asato district of Naha in which the participants promote exchange activities in the local community through their own projects. On December 4, the association...
December 2 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
Into December, all over Okinawa shipment of Japanese tiger prawns, a popular gift during the o-seibo or gift-giving season in early winter, has started in full swing. On November 30, workers at the Japanese tiger prawn farm in Ginoza were busy sorting...
November 27, 2012, Masaaki Umeda of Ryukyu Shimpo
Before World War II, Roy Oshiro enrolled at the University of British Columbia in Canada hoping to become a teacher after graduation. However, the war broke out and he was expelled from the university, discriminated against because he was the...
November 29, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
On November 24, a celebration known locally as kajimaya was held for 96 year-old Shinfuku Tamaki at his home in Takazato, Ogimi. He obtained his driving license before Okinawa’s return to Japanese sovereignty, and has been riding a motorcycle for...
November 12, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
On November 11, the final of the 3rd C-1 Chatan Gourmet Battle was held in the square in front of the Chatan Park Baseball Stadium. Sponsored by the Chatan Tourism Association and co-sponsored by Ryukyu Shimpo, 30 food and beverage stores and outlets located...
November 9, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
In the afternoon of November 8, six black-faced spoonbills, birds classified as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of the Ministry of the Environment, rested their wings on a pond known as Sankaku-Ike in the Yone district of Tomigusuku. According to bird-watchers,...
November 7, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
On October 27 and 28, the Okuma River Protection Fund, a non-profit organization, held the fourth nature observation tour at Okuma River in Kunigami. The tour started in May this year and received support grants from the Okinawa Kaiho Bank Environment Fund. Fumiyasu...
October 24, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo
On October 11, the opening ceremony of the Japan Community Safety Campaign in Motobu was held at Motobu Police Station. Haruko Izena, who is 95 years old and famous in her region as an energetic grandmother, worked as a police chief for one day. She saluted and...
Webcam(Kokusai Street)