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First ever Okinawa Karate International Tournament highly anticipated for next summer

First ever Okinawa Karate International Tournament highly anticipated for next summer

August 1, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 1 the executive committee for the Okinawa Karate International Tournament held an unveiling ceremony at the Okinawa Prefectural Office for a display counting down the number of days to the first time this tournament will open, which will be on August 1 next year.

Vice Governor of Okinawa Moritake Tomikawa, a deputy head of this executive committee, gave a comment in lieu of Governor Takeshi Onaga who heads the committee.

Tomikawa read:...

 

130 Karate-ka from all over the world gather for Shima-ha Shorin-ryu training camp

130 Karate-ka from all over the world gather for Shima-ha Shorin-ryu training camp

July 31, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Shima-ha Shorin-ryu Karate Federation kicked off their training camp July 30 at the Okinawa Budo-kan, assembling approximately 130 karate-ka from eight countries and regions outside of Okinawa including China, the U.S., Germany, Denmark, and South America.

The...

Ceremony held for 0.8% land return of Futenma base, Governor Onaga demands whole base to be moved out of Okinawa

Ceremony held for 0.8% land return of Futenma base, Governor Onaga demands whole base to be moved out of Okinawa

August 2, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 1, at a hotel in Ginowan, the Japanese government and Ginowan City held a land return ceremony. The United States government returned about four hectares, a part of land which is located on the east side of the U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma (about...

Japan National Governors’ Association study on U.S. military crime shows nearly half occurs in Okinawa

Japan National Governors’ Association study on U.S. military crime shows nearly half occurs in Okinawa

July 28, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 27 it came to light that spanning the eight years between 2008 and 2015, out of the number of reported crimes committed by U.S. Forces, Japan (USFJ) military personnel, civilians in military employ, and their families living in Japan, those crimes committed...

Survey conducted by Okinawa Prefecture finds 65% of people outside the island do not identify Okinawa as “The birthplace of Karate” – issues include lack of income and successors

Survey conducted by Okinawa Prefecture finds 65% of people outside the island do not identify Okinawa as “The birthplace of Karate” – issues include lack of income and successors

July 23, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the first-ever fact finding survey conducted by Okinawa Prefecture with the goal of promoting and passing down traditional Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, it was discovered that outside of Okinawa, 65.5% of people did not know that Okinawa is the birthplace of Karate....

Naha Airport runway closed due to damaged JASDF F-15 fighter jet, civilian flights delayed and canceled

Naha Airport runway closed due to damaged JASDF F-15 fighter jet, civilian flights delayed and canceled

July 27, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

At around 9:17 a.m. on July 26, the landing light glass of an F-15 fighter jet belonging to the Naha Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) was damaged when it took off from Naha Airport.

According to the Naha Airport Office of the Ministry of Land,...

Okinawa files new lawsuit to stop “outrageous” Henoko base relocation, claims “government construction illegal”

Okinawa files new lawsuit to stop “outrageous” Henoko base relocation, claims “government construction illegal”

July 25, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawan government filed a lawsuit in the Naha District Court against the Japanese federal government July 24, to prevent the destruction of rock on the seabed off the coast of Henoko in Nago as part of the new U.S. base construction. The prefectural government...

Digital Edition Extra: Prefectural government files lawsuit concerning necessity of damaging rock permission renewal

July 24, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

On the afternoon of July 24, the Okinawa prefectural government brought a lawsuit against the central government, seeking to halt the ongoing construction work for a new base in Henoko. The prefectural government is arguing that the central government...

A list of Okinawan POWs in Hawaii was discovered in Okinawa Prefectural Archives

A list of Okinawan POWs in Hawaii was discovered in Okinawa Prefectural Archives

July 21, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 20, a list of Okinawans who were captured during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and taken to a prison camp in Hawaii was found in the Okinawa Prefectural Archives. In February, Kaori Akiyama, who researches the compulsory detention of Japanese people in Hawaii...

Governor plans to attend rally on August 12

Governor plans to attend rally on August 12

July 12, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

The All Okinawa Council, which stands against the new Henoko military base held a press conference on July 11 in Naha City to announce its plans for a rally for Okinawan people on August 12. The number of participants is anticipated to be around 30,000 people.

The...

Chartered flight between Naha and Manila to be launched in December

July 15, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Phillippine Airlines will launch a direct chartered flight between Naha and Manila for six months from December. The news was announced on July 14. Mikiro Shimoji, a member of the Lower House, who was visiting the Philippines from July 11 to 13 met with Secretary...