Archive for the Society Category

Recent News

Two protestors sustain injuries while opposing helipad construction in Takae

Two protestors sustain injuries while opposing helipad construction in Takae

August 23, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 22, riot police forcibly removed about 90 protestors who were blocking construction vehicles working on construction of new helipads in the Northern Training Area spanning Higashi Village and Kunigami Village in Okinawa. One man and one woman were injured in the confrontation and were taken to the hospital by ambulance. Riot police penned protestors in between police vehicles over the span of an hour, and some protestors complained of feeling sick...

 

About 400 people gather in Takae to protest helipad construction

About 400 people gather in Takae to protest helipad construction

August 19, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the afternoon of August 19, about 400 people gathered in Takae Ward of Higashi Village to hold a protest rally against the construction of new helipads in the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area (NTA). The people taking part in the rally aimed to prevent...

Environmental economics pioneer Kenichi Miyamoto calls base expansion “tragic”

Environmental economics pioneer Kenichi Miyamoto calls base expansion “tragic”

August 15, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 14, Kenichi Miyamoto, Osaka City University professor emeritus and internationally recognized pioneer in the field of environmental economics, visited Henoko, Nago City, the planned relocation site for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. In Henoko,...

Actress Sayuri Yoshinaga questions why Japanese government does not bring Marines to Tokyo

Actress Sayuri Yoshinaga questions why Japanese government does not bring Marines to Tokyo

August 19, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 8, the August 23-30 issue of the weekly magazine Jyosei Jishin hit shelves, containing a printed discussion between actress Sayuri Yoshinaga and political scientist Sang-jung Kang concerning construction of new helipads around Takae, Higashi Village,...

SEALDs Ryukyu continuing to protest against construction of US base in Henoko and helipads in Takae

August 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa branch of Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy (SEALDs), a student organization that was set up to oppose Japan’s controversial security bills, announced on August 10 that it would continue its activities despite the national organization...

Helipad construction protestors surprised by First-Lady Akie Abe’s Takae visit

Helipad construction protestors surprised by First-Lady Akie Abe’s Takae visit

August 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 6, the prime minister’s wife, Akie Abe, visited a sit-in protestors’ tent at the N1 rear gate of the Northern Training Area set up in opposition to helipad construction. She listened to the protestors explain the sit-in site. The protestors showed...

Okinawan fishing association seeks withdrawal of US Marine Corps from Okinawa

Okinawan fishing association seeks withdrawal of US Marine Corps from Okinawa

July 31, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

An association representing people involved in the Okinawan fishing industry who oppose construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago, held a regular general meeting in Uruma City on July 30. The association unanimously passed a special resolution seeking the withdrawal...

Self-determination association forms with an eye on Ryukyu independence

Self-determination association forms with an eye on Ryukyu independence

July 25, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 24, the newly-formed “Nuchi du takara (life is a treasure)! Ryukyu self-determination association (preparatory association)” held an event to celebrate its formation at the Central Community Center in Nishihara Town. Approximately 150 people attended...

World record-holding free diver impressed with Oura Bay speaks up against land reclamation

World record-holding free diver impressed with Oura Bay speaks up against land reclamation

August 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 1, Sayuri Kinoshita, a 27-year-old world record-holding free diver from Nagasaki, went free diving in Oura Bay, Henoko. Her diving took her into underwater caves and similar places at Ino, Henoko, and two other locations. Although she has been diving in...

Okinawa at its warmest in postwar period

August 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

According to the Okinawa Meteorological Observatory, average temperatures in the Okinawa region for July were higher than usual by 0.9 degree Celsius, equal to the highest temperature recorded since statistics started in 1946. The monthly average sea surface temperature...

“Never give up” Takae protesters getting nationwide support

July 25, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Japanese government has resumed helipad construction in the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area (NTA), which expands from Higashi Village to Kunigami Village. Citizens protesting against the construction have long received supplies such as food from various...