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Association of mothers submits petition to eliminate harmful substances in water to OPG

Association of mothers submits petition to eliminate harmful substances in water to OPG

May 30, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Following the discovery of hazardous substance in tap water, filtration plants, and water sources, a group of women alarmed by the situation established the “Association of Mothers Requesting Safe Water.” The source of the pollution is suspected to be the U.S. military bases stationed in Okinawa.

On May 29, representative Ai Yamamoto held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office Journalist Club. Seeing how the water contains substances...

 

“NO Henoko”: Protesters rally across 32 prefectures, five thousand at Diet

“NO Henoko”: Protesters rally across 32 prefectures, five thousand at Diet

May 26, 2019 The Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 25, protesters rallied across the nation to stop the construction of the new base in Henoko, Nago City. While many cities in Japan recorded the hottest day of the year yet, protestors hit the streets, held gatherings and talks at 38 locations across 32...

After a lifelong separation by war, a woman orphaned in the Philippines “comes home” for the first time to her father’s village in Okinawa

After a lifelong separation by war, a woman orphaned in the Philippines “comes home” for the first time to her father’s village in Okinawa

May 26, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

After war separated her from her father her entire life, Zenaida Sumiko Fusato, 78, who was orphaned in the Philippines during the war, landed at Naha Airport May 25, and set foot in her father’s hometown in Okinawa for the first time. Sumiko, who was greeted and...

Photojournalist Bunyo Ishikawa reaches Okinawa after 10 months touring Japan on foot

Photojournalist Bunyo Ishikawa reaches Okinawa after 10 months touring Japan on foot

May 23, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

A photojournalist taking a walking tour along the Japanese islands, Bunyo Ishikawa, 81, arrived on Okinawa’s main island on May 22. In July 2018 Ishikawa started out from Cape Soya, Hokkaido, and it has taken him about 10 months to set foot on Okinawan soil....

U.S. bases still expanding 47 years after Okinawa reversion, 2,000 rally in strong opposition

U.S. bases still expanding 47 years after Okinawa reversion, 2,000 rally in strong opposition

May 19, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

It has been 47 years since Okinawa was returned to Japanese sovereignty after its period of U.S. military occupation, post-war. On the afternoon of May 19 the 5/15 the Peace March Action Committee and the Okinawa Peace Movement Center organized a prefectural...

Kyoto University professors detect PFOS concentration of 4 times national average in Ginowan residents’ blood

Kyoto University professors detect PFOS concentration of 4 times national average in Ginowan residents’ blood

May 17, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Ryota Shimabukuro

In April Professor Emeritus Akio Koizumi and Associate Professor Koji Harada, medical faculty members of Kyoto University, conducted a study concerning perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which is suspected to be carcinogenic. Specifically,...

Over six times the normal level of hexavalent chromium detected at arena construction site in Okinawa City

Over six times the normal level of hexavalent chromium detected at arena construction site in Okinawa City

May 17, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa City – Over six times the standard level of hexavalent chromium was detected at the construction site where Okinawa City is planning to build a 10,000 person-capacity multi-purpose arena on May 16. Hexavalent chromium is sometimes found in the ground at...

Eldest Battle of Okinawa storyteller, Toshie Asato, retires after 40 years sharing her experiences

Eldest Battle of Okinawa storyteller, Toshie Asato, retires after 40 years sharing her experiences

May 17, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Wakana Arakaki

Toshie Asato is the eldest professional Battle of Okinawa storyteller in Okinawa, upon whom the movie Gama: Getto no Hana was modeled. At the age of 98, she has decided to stop storytelling due to poor physical health. On May 16, she held her...

260 demonstrators march through Shinjuku to protest discrimination against Okinawa in the form of U.S. bases, question Okinawa’s reversion to Japan

260 demonstrators march through Shinjuku to protest discrimination against Okinawa in the form of U.S. bases, question Okinawa’s reversion to Japan

May 13, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Tokyo) On May 12, the Okinawa One-Tsubo Anti-War Landholders Association, Kanto Bloc held a protest near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to re-think “May 15,” as this year marks 140 years since the 1879 Ryukyu annexation (the “Ryukyu Disposition”) and 47 years...

Emigrant returns from Brazil after hardship: “Dreams do come true.”

Emigrant returns from Brazil after hardship: “Dreams do come true.”

May 4, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Takaya Kinra

Isa, Ginowan City—Ansaburo Takushi, 76, emigrated to Brazil after the U.S. military seized his land, and later returned to Okinawa.

Takushi recently published an autobiography, titled “Ishihama Land Seizure and the Isahama Immigrants...

71 unused U.S. blank cartridges found on returned NTA land, reminders of military presence

71 unused U.S. blank cartridges found on returned NTA land, reminders of military presence

May 3, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

While Akino Miyagi was researching insects in Takae, Higashi Village in April this year, he found 71 unused U.S. blank cartridges on April 6 in the vicinity of what was the LZ-FBJ helipad on returned Northern Training Area (NTA) land in Kunigami Village.

Miyagi...