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Commandant Neller ignores history of land taken by U.S. military saying, “there were no people living” near Futenma when it was built

Commandant Neller ignores history of land taken by U.S. military saying, “there were no people living” near Futenma when it was built

 

May 4, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

Washington Special Correspondent Yukiyo Zaha reporting

 

On May 2 the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (CMC) General Robert B. Neller spoke about Futenma Air Station, located in Ginowan City, Okinawa. He said, “Futenma Air Base is very old. It goes back to World War II. And if you look at pictures, Futenma when it was built was … there were no people living within several kilometers. Now the cities around Futenma...

 

Okinawa’s distant islands face a grave situation as hazardous waste washing ashore from overseas threatens island ecosystems

Okinawa’s distant islands face a grave situation as hazardous waste washing ashore from overseas threatens island ecosystems

 

May 8, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Chie Tome

 

On the shores of Okinawa’s Yaeyama archipelago, Miyako Island, and Yonaguni Island, waste that contains hazardous materials such as vacuum tubes that contains substances like mercury and polyethylene waste containers...

71 years after the enactment of the Japanese constitution, assemblies take place all over Okinawa regarding the Article 9

71 years after the enactment of the Japanese constitution, assemblies take place all over Okinawa regarding the Article 9

 

May 4, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The “2018 Constitution Lecture Series” was held May 3, the anniversary of the enactment of the Japanese constitution, at Ginowan Community Center (hosted by The Okinawa Constitutional Association, the Okinawa Human Rights Association,...

Sea turtle found around new military base in Henoko

Sea turtle found around new military base in Henoko

 

May 2, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

A sea turtle was found swimming in the ocean around Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago City where a new military base is under construction.

 

Crushed stones continued to be poured in the ocean at the K4 site where bank protection...

Prefectural rally of 1500 people gathers in Henoko to observe Okinawa’s day of humiliation and protest persistent issues

Prefectural rally of 1500 people gathers in Henoko to observe Okinawa’s day of humiliation and protest persistent issues

 

April 29, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

April 28 marked 66 years since the day in 1952 that the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect and separated Okinawa from Japanese sovereignty, known to Okinawans as a day of humiliation.

A group pledging to never forget this...

150 citizens hold on-water protest against Henoko base marking one year since embankment work began

150 citizens hold on-water protest against Henoko base marking one year since embankment work began

April 25, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

April 25 marked one year since embankment work commenced for the new base in Henoko, Nago City.

The Helicopter Base Objection Association held a sit-in on the water in Oura Bay.

A little after 9:00 a.m., 150 people called to action assembled...

Two years after murder by ex-Marine, wounds of the bereaved family have yet to heal

Two years after murder by ex-Marine, wounds of the bereaved family have yet to heal

April 27, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

As of April 28, it has been two years since it occurred that a U.S. military contractor sexually assaulted and murdered a woman in the central part of Okinawa Island.

On the 26th an attorney who represents the family of the deceased released...

People digging clams and praying for health at beaches in Okinawa

People digging clams and praying for health at beaches in Okinawa

 

Many people visited sunny beaches on March 18, which is March 3 on the old lunar calendar, to hold an event called Hama-ori. Many children enjoyed clam digging on the beaches.

 

About 40 children, aged four to five, from Gajimaru nursery school in Mekaru, Naha City,...

National Route 329 traffic halted for over 10 minutes to allow U.S. amphibious vehicles’ passage

National Route 329 traffic halted for over 10 minutes to allow U.S. amphibious vehicles’ passage

April 17, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

Around 3:30 p.m. on April 16 in Matsuda, Ginoza Village, 10 or more U.S. military amphibious vehicles crossed National Route 329 while traveling from the ocean toward the mountains. Regular traffic was stopped for over 10 minutes as the amphibious vehicles passed....

University of the Ryukyus joins the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, teaming up with British researchers to conserve Yambaru trees for the future

University of the Ryukyus joins the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, teaming up with British researchers to conserve Yambaru trees for the future

 

April 13, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The University of the Ryukyus has teamed up with the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP), an international conservation project that collects and stores seeds from all over the world to ensure the Earth’s biodiversity for the future.

Researchers...

Multilingual contact center opens to support foreign tourists for medical interpretation

 

April 13, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Masanao Chinen

 

On April 1, Okinawa Prefecture opened a “Be.Okinawa Inbound Medical Interpretation Contact Center” to provide interpretation by phone at medical sites where communication with foreign tourists is an issue.

Travel...