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June 14, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
A “grandma-model,” 94-year old Emiko Toguchi from Ie village and living in Hyogo Prefecture, wears colorful costumes and a pretty smile, attracting fans from all over the world. Since her 36-year old granddaughter Chinami Mori posted a photo of her grandmother on Instagram, the photo-posting app, their joint Instagram account now entertains 36000 followers.
Mori, who is a saori-weaving artist, also designs stoles and bands for her hair. Mori said she thought, “I want to see more of her smiles” and came up with an idea to ask her to model for her Instagram account. Her grandmother’s garish clothes and “grandma” image contrasted with the usual content on Instagram so began to receive positive responses. Toguchi, who declined the offer at first, is now used to making poses for camera, remarking that she was “glad when strangers made compliments.”
Toguchi left Ie-jima when she was a middle-school student and experienced a severe air raid in Yokohama during WWII. After she returned to Okinawa at the end of the war, her husband suddenly died at the age of 35 due to an injury he got while working. Toguchi raised five daughters as a single mother and moved to Hyogo, where her daughter now lives, when she was 54. Reflecting on her stormy life, she looks at her granddaughter with the biggest smile saying, “I feel the happiest now and it makes me forget my struggles in the past.”
Ryukyu Shimpo’s “Temita.” issued on June 18 introduces more stories about Toguchi’s life and about their meeting
(English translation by T&CT and Sayaka Sakuma)
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June 12, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
On June 11 at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2017 held in Tokyo and Yokohama from June 1st, a film “born, bone, bo-on,” which was directed by Gori of Garage Sale won the top award in the Official Competition Japan category. The film deals with the theme of “bone washing,” a traditional custom on Aguni Island. The film won out of 333 applicants. Gori expressed his joy, “For me, this is a happier moment than Daigo Higa’s achievement on the World Championship.”
“bo-on” is a short comedy filmed on Aguni Island. It is a story involving a separated family reconnecting through Aguni’s traditional custom of “bone washing.”
The film festival began in 1999. In 2004, the Academy Awards in the U.S. officially recognized it as an accredited film festival. The Grand Prix is selected among top awards. Grand Prix becomes nominated as a candidate for the next year’s Academy Awards’ Short Film Section. Although “bo-on” missed out on the Grand Prix, it was highly esteemed in the biggest short film festival in Asia.
Receiving the news about the award, Gori said, “Rather than being my achievement, Aguni Island which carefully maintains the custom of bone washing let me win. I would like to continue making films set in Okinawa and disseminate the treasure of Okinawa to many people.” Judges included film director Nobuhiko Obayashi.
At the same film festival, in 2012, director Tsukasa Kishimoto from Nago City won a top award in “Tabi Shiyoto! Project Section.”
(English translation by T&CT and Megumi Chibana)
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June 17, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hideki Matsudo
June 13 marked 72 years since Rear Admiral Minoru Ota, the final commander of the Japanese naval forces defending Okinawa, committed suicide in the underground headquarters. His great-grandson Dougul Sutherland, 23, of Australian nationality, participated for the first time in a memorial service held at the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters park in Tomigusuku City.
He paid a floral tribute in front of the memorial tower, where an inscription is engraved with Admiral Ota’s final telegram, which reads: “This is how the Okinawa prefecture people have fought the war. I ask that you give them special consideration, in future ages.”
In addition, he stressed that “72 years have passed since the Battle of Okinawa ended. But, U.S. military bases still exist, and the people are forced to bear the burden. The bases should be reduced”
Sutherland is a grandson of the admiral Ota’s fourth daughter Akiko, 85. He was born in Sydney, Australia and is currently on exchange with the Australian National University at Kyoto University.
“When I was about ten years old, I heard about my great grandfather from my grandmother. I was surprised to know that he had fought as a commander and died in Okinawa,” he said.
According to Sutherland, he then began to research the history of the Battle of Okinawa and Okinawa’s postwar history on his own. He wrote a report on the Battle of Okinawa for university.
Akiko has visited Okinawa every year to attend the memorial service and has sometimes gone to Henoko, Nago, where the construction of a new base is underway.
Akiko said, “I do not know if my father is pleased, but I’d like to tell my children and grandchildren about the Battle of Okinawa and the importance of peace.”
“The Battle of Okinawa is so terrible, many residents died. Not only that, but also the accidents and incidents, including the rape case of an Okinawan girl by U.S. soldiers, took place after the war,” Sutherland said. He added, “I ache because many U.S. military bases are still in Okinawa and the people are forced to bear the burden. I want to tell many people about the reality of the Battle of Okinawa and Okinawa.”
(English translation by T&CT)
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June 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Ryugin Research Institute (Naha, Okinawa, Toru Ikehata, CEO) announced the economic effect of the 2017 Okinawa Pro Baseball Spring Training June 15. In addition to the Nippon Series and League champion team holding their spring training in Okinawa, the Yomiuri Giants camp lasted longer than their 2016 stay, resulting in an economic result of 10.95 billion yen and an influx of 3.5 million tourists, both record highs.
This year Okinawa welcomed nine Japanese professional baseball teams to spring training, the same as the previous year.
With last years’ Nippon Series champions, the Nippon-ham Fighters, holding their spring training in Okinawa, the number of reporters and commentators increased by 250 people compared to the previous year for a total of around 2,000 people.
Tourism also increased this year by around 17,000 people. Within this figure, visitors from outside of Okinawa increased by 4,900 people compared to the previous year for an estimated total of around 70,900 visitors.
Breaking down the economic benefits by industry, the hospitality industry brought in just over 2 billion yen, the retail industry recorded 1.3 billion yen, the restaurant business brought in 1.28 billion yen, and the manufacturing industry reported 1.17 billion yen.
The Ryugin Research Institute indicated in its analysis, “Professional Baseball spring training attracts a large number of tourists and people involved with baseball to Okinawa, stimulating consumption and having an immense effect on the Okinawan economy. By utilizing this opportunity even more effectively, it will contribute to the development of the professional sports industry overall including professional soccer and basketball.
(English translation by TC&T and Sam Grieb)
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June 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
The memorial service for former governor of Okinawa Prefecture Masahide Ota was held at Inanse Ceremonial Hall (Inanse Kaikan) in Urasoe City on June 15. Ota passed away on June 12, which was his 92nd birthday. Those who attended the service included his students from his time as a professor at the University of the Ryukyus, persons who knew him through political and financial circles, persons acquainted with him elsewhere, and others; attendees numbered 1,500 altogether.
Former vice-governor of Okinawa Prefecture Mikio Higa, a long-time family friend of Ota’s, delivered a memorial address at the service. He described Ota as an ‘apostle of peace,’ saying, “Ota-san was delivered to humanity to teach everyone to understand the folly of war and the value of peace.”
Higa talked about his state of mind when he heard Ota had passed away in a hospital room amid a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday.’ He choked on his words and turned away as he said, “I could not bear the shock and grief.”
Ota’s 65-year-old nephew Kaoru Yamazato also spoke at the service, representing the bereaved family. He said, “On Uncle Masahide’s 92nd birthday, peacefully surrounded by his family while listening to ‘Happy Birthday,’ he passed on as though falling asleep.” As Yamazato thanked attendees for coming, he mentioned that in accordance with Ota’s wishes he intends to make a portion of the condolence gifts received at the memorial service useful to peacemaking efforts.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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June 15, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition
On June 15 around noon, more than 30 construction vehicles were seen intermittently entering the U.S. military Camp Schwab. These vehicles are for relocating the U.S. military Futenma Air Station to Henoko, Nago City. About 100 citizens sat outside the gate and protested the new base construction. Participants also voiced their anger regarding the anti-conspiracy law that was passed that very morning. They said that the new law specifically targets Henoko and Okinawa Prefecture and that they will push aside the law by working together.
Meanwhile, cranes were seen transferring bags of gravel from trucks to the beach at the construction site for the K9 seawall along the coast of Camp Schwab.
(English translation by T&CT and Chelsea Ashimine)
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June 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
Ryota Shimabukuro reports from Geneva
On the afternoon of June 15 (around midnight JST), Okinawa Peace Movement Center Director Hiroji Yamashiro gave a statement before the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Yamashiro was arrested while engaging in protest against the construction of helipads in the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area in Okinawa and held in detention for five months before being released on bail. Mr. Yamashiro stated, “I was forced to confess and give up the protest activity. This is a clear human rights violation by the authorities.”
He then stated, “However, I and Okinawan people will never bow to oppression. I demand the government of Japan to stop human rights violations and respect the Okinawan people’s will against the [new military base construction].”
Mr. Yamashiro was invited to give a statement by the U.N. NGO International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination (IMADR). Yamashiro stated, “In the protest, I was arrested for a minor offense followed by two retroactive arrests. I was detained for five months. I was not allowed to see anyone except lawyers, not even my family.”
He additionally explained that “Citizens are protesting…the government of Japan dispatched large police forces in Okinawa to oppress and violently remove those people,” referring to the protests against the helipad construction.
Regarding Mr. Hiroji’s detainment, a report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council by U.N. Special Rapporteur David Kaye on June 12 referred to the construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago and the construction of helipads in the Northern Training Area and indicated that “disproportionate penalties” were imposed.
Mr. Yamashiro also participated in a symposium held at the United Nations building in Geneva on June 16.
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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June 11, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
The group Stop! Henoko Umetate (also known as Stop! Henoko Land Reclamation) held a National Diet Building encirclement protest on the afternoon of June 10, requesting that the Japanese government abandon new base construction in Henoko, Nago, and scrap the bill to incorporate “conspiracy crimes” in the Act on Punishment of Organized Crimes. This is the fifth Diet encirclement action since February last year opposing Henoko base construction.
Organizers of this Diet encirclement were Stop! Henoko Umetate’s Diet Encirclement Action Committee, the United Action Committee for Don’t Allow War (Senso Sasenai) and Don’t Destroy Article 9 (Kyujyo Kowasuna), and the Okinawa Council Opposing Base Relocation Within Okinawa. The Conspiracy Crimes NO! Action Committee also supported the organizers.
According to the organizers 18,000 people surrounded the Diet, zealously calling out things such as “Don’t build a base in Henoko” and “We won’t give up until construction is abandoned.” Not only was a gathering was held in Henoko in solidarity with the one in Tokyo, there were concurrent gatherings in other prefectures including Aichi, Akita, Toyama, and Ishikawa to oppose Henoko base construction.
Encirclement protestors also called for the conspiracy crimes bill to be scrapped. They criticized the arrests of protestors opposing helipad construction in the Northern Training Area, saying these arrests were made as though the conspiracy crimes bill was already in effect.
Mayor of Nago City and co-representative of the All-Okinawa Kaigi Susumu Inamine took the podium and said: “By means of police at the site for new base construction, disorderly situations are occurring in which non-violent citizens become injured. However, we will not give up [until construction is abandoned].”
On this day many people took the podium and declared that they will fight to the end to stop construction in Henoko. These included co-representative of the Helicopter Base Objection Association Hiroshi Ashitomi, Director Kaoru Yamaguchi of Amnesty International’s Japan Campaigns Unit, opposition party Diet members, experts, and citizen representatives who oppose Henoko base construction.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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June 7, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Lower House Plenary session confirmed it will allow both male and female members to participate in meetings in kariyushi shirts and without a jacket during the Cool Business period in the summer. The decision was made during the board meeting on June 7. The dress code will be applied in general meetings from June 12.
The wearing of kariyushi shirts has been allowed during the Cool Business campaign before, however jackets were still required in the general meetings. A few Diet members participating in the general meeting wore kariyushi shirts under jackets on the Day of Kariyushi Shirts on June 1.
Photograph: Economics Minister Nobuteru Ishihara (from left), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Taro Aso.
(English translation by T&CT)
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June 9, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
On June 6 at the joint U.S.-Japan Commission, the U.S. and Japanese governments reaffirmed their agreement to improve 23 facilities in the U.S. military Camp Schwab, including communication buildings and welfare facilities.
On June 6 at the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee, the U.S. and Japanese governments reaffirmed their agreement to improve 23 facilities in the U.S. military Camp Schwab, including communication buildings and welfare facilities, in association with the construction of a new base at Henko in Nago City to relocate the Futenma Air Station. The upgrade also includes demolition work around the coastal area.
The agreement on facility improvement comes after the commencement of landfill for the new base construction. It is an effort to accelerate the construction. Reorganization of facilities in Schwab accompanying the construction of the new base was included in the reorganization road map of May 2006.
There are 23 buildings, including communication facilities, compound shops, welfare facilities, four auditoriums and related facilities. The total area is about 42,800 square meters. The maintenance also includes optical cables connecting Schwab and Torii communication facilities and roads within Henoko ammunition storage area. The project cost of facility improvement is estimated at 15.9 billion yen.
A facility in the south part of Henokozaki which corresponds to the runway part of the new base will be demolished.
(English translation by T&CT and Megumi Chibana)
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June 10, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
A U.S. Marine Corps Osprey made an emergency landing at Amami Airport, Kagoshima, at about 8:52 p.m. on June 10.
According to the local fire station, there were no reports of fire and injuries and no fire trucks or ambulances sent.
This Osprey aircraft, belonging to the U.S. Futenma Air Station, let off a warning light, possibly indicating abnormality, when it flew off the coast of the Amami Islands, according to the Okinawa Defense Bureau.
The Amami Airport Management Office did not receive prior notification regarding the Osprey’s landing.
There was no damage to the aircraft. The U.S. military explained it was a “preventive landing” to avoid an accident.
The Osprey’s landing had no effect on the airport’s routine operations, which end at 7:30 p.m. According to the Kagoshima prefectural civil engineering port airport section, one of MV-22 Osprey aircraft based on the Futenma Air Station crashed in Nago last December, and another made an emergency landing at the Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield on June 6.
(English translation by T&CT)
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