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After numerous instances of poaching, Okinawa to close hiking trails in Kunigami at night starting August 26, in an effort to protect the Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle

After numerous instances of poaching, Okinawa to close hiking trails in Kunigami at night starting August 26, in an effort to protect the Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle

August 18, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

In an effort to stop the poaching of plants and animals such as the Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle, a Japanese protected species that lives only in Yanbaru, in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island, the Okinawa Environmental Protection Agency will close trails in Kunigami at night from August 26 through October 21, as a test to gauge the efficacy of such a policy.

The agency stated, “We do not want the precious plants and animals from Yanbaru...

 

Protest held outside GinowanCity Hall 15 years after helicopter crash at Okinawa International University

Protest held outside GinowanCity Hall 15 years after helicopter crash at Okinawa International University

August 12, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Ginowan) August 13 marks 15 years since the day a U.S. military helicopter crashed over Okinawa International University, and on August 11, in advance of the date, Shimagurumi Kaigi Ginowan and the Futenma Noise Lawsuit Group held a protest outside Ginowan City...

NIAC foreigner trend survey shows foreigners make up half of population increase, Chinese the largest foreigner group

August 6, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 5, the Nansei Shoto Industrial Advancement Center (NIAC, headed by Mitsuru Omine) published a report analyzing trends in resident foreigners in Okinawa.

From July 2018 to July 2019, Okinawa’s total population (prefectural estimate) rose by 6,153,...

German peace organization offers cooperation to “make Henoko a global effort”

German peace organization offers cooperation to “make Henoko a global effort”

August 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Reiner Braun, Co-President of the International Peace Bureau (IPB), a Berlin-based pacifist organization advocating disarmament, held a joint symposium on July 31 with the All-Okinawa Coalition, which comprises political parties and organizations that oppose the...

“Association for Returning Remains to their Homeland” established for joint Japan-South Korea collection of Battle of Okinawa remains in Kenken, Motobu, Okinawa

“Association for Returning Remains to their Homeland” established for joint Japan-South Korea collection of Battle of Okinawa remains in Kenken, Motobu, Okinawa

July 28, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 27, a group called “Association for Returning Remains in Kenken, Motobu to their Homeland” was established with the aim of collecting the remains of fourteen people, including Koreans mobilized during the Battle of Okinawa, that were found in Kenken,...

Dugong found in Nakijin ruled to have died from a stingray stinger, says the Ministry of the Environment, Okinawa, and Nakijin while announcing the results of their investigation

Dugong found in Nakijin ruled to have died from a stingray stinger, says the Ministry of the Environment, Okinawa, and Nakijin while announcing the results of their investigation

July 29, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ministry of the Environment (MoE), Okinawa Prefecture, and Nakijin Village announced July 29 that after conducting an autopsy, a dugong which was found dead in Untengyo Bay in Nakijin in March of this year and is a protected species in Japan was ruled to have...

U.S. veterans to request GAO investigation of Henoko base construction

U.S. veterans to request GAO investigation of Henoko base construction

July 26, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Veterans for Peace—Ryukyu Okinawa Chapter Kokusai (VFP-ROCK) President Douglas Lummis and members held a press conference at Okinawa’s prefectural press club on July 25. The group announced VFP-ROCK’s intentions to submit a new resolution for approval at the...

Japan’s 100-yen coin gets a special Karate design commemorating the upcoming Tokyo Olympics

Japan’s 100-yen coin gets a special Karate design commemorating the upcoming Tokyo Olympics

July 24, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) began putting 100-yen coins with a Karate design into circulation July 24.

The new coin was minted to commemorate the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and is joined by six other commemorative designs featuring events such...

Vietnamese refugee and Okinawan rescuer reunited after 36 years

Vietnamese refugee and Okinawan rescuer reunited after 36 years

July 14, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hiroe Nakagawa

After fleeing his native Vietnam, Masakazu Minami 50, (Vietnamese name: John Tai Tuan Vin), was rescued off the coast of Ho Chi Minh City by Okinawa Suisan (fishery) High School’s training vessel, the Shonan-maru. It was August 8, 1983....

Music played with the fingers!? This is Okinawan summer’s “traditional performance art”

Music played with the fingers!? This is Okinawan summer’s “traditional performance art”

July 16, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Hiroki Ohashi

Okinawa’s finger-whistling music can be heard cheering on the teams at high school baseball games and at Eisa performances. On July 7, Finger-Whistling Day, a “Summer Vacation Finger-Whistling Concert 2019” was held at the JICA Okinawa...

Naha NPO to build community center in Egypt with MEXT support

Naha NPO to build community center in Egypt with MEXT support

July 9, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

In June, a plan by the NPO Ichiman-nin Idobata Kaigi, which runs the Hantagawa Community Center in Naha, Okinawa, to build community centers in Egypt was adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as a “project for promoting...