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More than 3,500 protest new base in Henoko, governor announces intention to revoke land reclamation approval

More than 3,500 protest new base in Henoko, governor announces intention to revoke land reclamation approval

March 25, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

On March 25, the “prefectural people’s rally calling for immediate cancellation of unlawful land reclamation work and abandonment of the plan to build a new base in Henoko”, organized by the All Okinawa Coalition to Prevent Construction of a New Base in Henoko, was held in front of the gate to the U.S. military’s Camp Schwab. According to organizer estimates, more than 3,500 participants joined the rally.

Governor Takeshi Onaga...

 

Tsushima Maru Memorial Unveiled in Uken

Tsushima Maru Memorial Unveiled in Uken

March 20, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Midori Iwasaki reporting from Amami Oshima

The monument commemorating the evacuation boat “Tsushima Maru,” which was sunk by a torpedo attack from an American submarine in August, 1944, had its unveiling ceremony March 19 at Funoshi beach in Uken, on...

US military conducts parachute drop training ignoring local objections

US military conducts parachute drop training ignoring local objections

March 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 16 shortly after 5 p.m., the U.S. Air Force conducted parachute drop training over the water at Tsuken Island Training Area in Uruma City. Okinawa Prefecture and Uruma City have repeatedly requested the cancellation of parachute drop training over the water....

Famous Habu-Hunter’s indictment for unlicensed snake keeping dismissed after proper documentation provided

Famous Habu-Hunter’s indictment for unlicensed snake keeping dismissed after proper documentation provided

March 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Yasuhiro Makishi (60), the famous habu hunter who has been catching habu (a viper native to Okinawa) in the mountains of the northern part of Okinawa’s main island for around 30 years, had his arrest dismissed by the Tokyo District Court on March 10. Makishi...

US military generates largest amount of garbage yet: 2.6 tons, a 11% increase and 1.8 times that generated by Okinawans

March 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

In fiscal 2015, 26,332 tons of ordinary waste was generated on U.S. bases in Okinawa, a 11.4% increase year on year. This was the first time that the amount of generated garbage exceeded 26,000 tons since fiscal 2010, and the largest amount of garbage generated...

Long-term detainee Okinawa peace activist Yamashiro released on bail

Long-term detainee Okinawa peace activist Yamashiro released on bail

March 18, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

Okinawa Peace Movement Center Chairman Hiroji Yamashiro, 64, had been detained for approximately five months for his protest activities regarding the new base construction in Henoko of Nago and the U.S. military Northern Training Area helipad construction....

Civic groups submit largest appeal yet against Henoko construction with 1.21 million signatures

March 9, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Civic group representatives submit signatures to opposition party Diet members on March 9 at the House of Representatives 1st Diet Members’ Building.

As of March 9, an appeal titled “Nationwide United Signatures Calling for Respect for the Okinawan People’s...

Tires drop from US military chopper over Okinawa sky

March 9 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

In a helipad commonly called a “Falcon”, located at Camp Hansen in the vicinity of the Shirohara district of Ginoza Village on March 8, the U.S.Marines Corps in Okinawa resumed for the first time in about three months chopper flight training that involves suspending...

Court orders Okinawa to cancel documents disclosure decision in Japanese government lawsuit

Court orders Okinawa to cancel documents disclosure decision in Japanese government lawsuit

March 7, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo 

On the morning of March 7 the Naha District Court handed down a decision in the case concerning the Okinawa prefectural government (OPG) decision to disclose an agreement between the governments of Okinawa, Japan, and the U.S. on the use of prefectural road 70,...

Pointing out the contradiction of deploying Ground Self-Defense Forces

Pointing out the contradiction of deploying Ground Self-Defense Forces

February 28, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 28 at the Diet, a citizens group that opposes the Ground Self-Defense Force being deployed to the Nansei Islands held negotiations with the government requesting that the troops be removed. The citizens group pointed out the government’s contradiction....

Aircraft circle private property in Ginoza despite local appeals against use of nearby helipad

Aircraft circle private property in Ginoza despite local appeals against use of nearby helipad

March 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 2, aircraft from Futenma Air Station including MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft conducted low-altitude flight training at a helipad commonly called “Falcon” in the vicinity of Ginoza Village, Shirohara Ward. At its highest the sound...