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Okinawa’s “Free Cram School” paving the way to dream schools

Okinawa’s “Free Cram School” paving the way to dream schools

January 10, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Manato Akira

Last June, a “Free Cram School” initiative targeting high school students from economically deprived families opened its doors to the public in Okinawa City. There has already been news of students getting accepted to their first-choice schools through entrance examinations, such as the selected student screening. Among this batch of students are 18-year olds Suzuna Nakamura and Arisa Chibana. Nakamura, a junior at Maehara Senior...

 

“Jaws” in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium dies after three days in captivity

January 7 and 8, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

A great white shark has been exhibited in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Great white sharks account for the largest number of shark attacks against humans and also appeared in the American film “Jaws”.

The shark was a male about 3.5-meter long and...

Fundraising for Okinawan infant with severe heart disorder reaches 350 million yen

Fundraising for Okinawan infant with severe heart disorder reaches 350 million yen

January 6, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 5, Operation Save Noa, a volunteer group to support one-year-old Noa Onaga who needs to travel to the United States for a heart transplant because of a severe heart disorder, held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Government building. The...

Okinawa hits record high child poverty rate of 37%, 2.7 times higher than 2012 nationwide rate

Okinawa hits record high child poverty rate of 37%, 2.7 times higher than 2012 nationwide rate

January 5, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa’s child poverty rate hit 37.5 percent in 2012, the highest in Japan. On January 4, Kensaku Tomuro, Associate Professor of Yamagata University, announced the findings of his nationwide child poverty rate survey. Results revealed that over one-third of...

New Year’s solemn ceremony at Shuri Castle

New Year’s solemn ceremony at Shuri Castle

January 1, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

From January 1 to 3, a New Year’s ceremony was held at Shurijo Castle Park, Naha. The Chouhaiokishiki, or Imperial Court New Year’s morning ceremony, which used to take place at Shuri Castle on New Year’s Day during the Ryukyu Dynasty, was demonstrated. Many...

30% of high school teachers notice students financially in trouble

December 24, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 23, a questionnaire carried out by the Ryukyu Shimpo and the Prefectural High School and Handicapped People’s School Teacher’s and Staff Union revealed that 28.9% of high school teachers and staff had noticed some students could not bring...

Toshiko Kinjo looking for her sister separated in Saipan during war

Toshiko Kinjo looking for her sister separated in Saipan during war

December 25, 2015 Takahiro Miyagi of Ryukyu Shimpo,

Eighty-one-year-old WWII survivor Toshiko Kinjo is looking for her younger sister who was separated from her at an internment camp in Saipan in 1944. Kinjo is a director of a preschool in Nishihara Town, and her sister, Etsuko, was one year...

Low-frequency noise from CH-53 helicopters exceeds assessment standards at NIT, Okinawa College

December 22, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 21, Takeshi Tokashiki, Associate Professor at the University of the Ryukyus, presented the results of a low-frequency noise survey conducted at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Okinawa College in Henoko, Nago. The survey measured the impact...

Ryukyu Koto Koyo Kai LA Branch celebrates 50th anniversary

Ryukyu Koto Koyo Kai LA Branch celebrates 50th anniversary

December 14, 2015 Sadao Tome, Ryukyu Shimpo Correspondent

On November 28 at the Armstrong Theater in Torrance City, the USA, the Ryukyu Koto Koyo Kai Los Angeles Branch held its 50th anniversary ceremony performance. Approximately 400 people attended and enjoyed the performance with its theme...

Movie The Omoiyari questions rational of sympathy budget for US Forces in Japan

Movie The Omoiyari questions rational of sympathy budget for US Forces in Japan

December 18, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

A movie titled The Omoiyari challenges the question of the periodic payment by Japan to the US military for bearing the cost of stationing US Forces there, popularly referred to as the omoiyari yosan, or “sympathy budget” in English. This film was recently...

Photographers discuss significance of Koza riot

Photographers discuss significance of Koza riot

December 13, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 12, a photographers’ gallery talk on the Koza riot was held at Gallery Lafayette in the Chuo district of Okinawa City. With about 50 participants, Ko Yoshioka, Kazuo Kuniyoshi, and Toyomitsu Higa, who exhibited photographs they had taken, discussed...