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Former Okinawa Governor and Battle of Okinawa scholar Masahide Ota passes away

Former Okinawa Governor and Battle of Okinawa scholar Masahide Ota passes away

June 12, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Former Okinawa Governor Masahide Ota died at age 92 due to respiratory failure and pneumonia at a hospital in Naha City at 11:50 a.m. on June 12.

He experienced the raging battle of Okinawa as a member of “Tekketsu Kinnotai” or “Blood and Iron Student Corps”. He served as Okinawa Governor and as a member of the Upper House, and was dedicated to solving the military base issue and developing the prefectural economy.

Ota was...

 

Osprey from Futenma Air Station makes emergency landing at Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield

Osprey from Futenma Air Station makes emergency landing at Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield

June 7, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the night of June 6, a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from Futenma Air Station made an emergency landing on the coral runway at Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield. According to Ie Village office, no injuries or material damages have been...

Petition to make Dugongs the prefectural animal for Okinawa

Petition to make Dugongs the prefectural animal for Okinawa

June 7, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 6, a petition to the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) was started in hopes of making Dugongs the prefectural animal for Okinawa. The petition is organized by seven people, including singers Tokiko Kato and Misako Kojya. The organizers hope to collect signatures...

Ryukyu indigo dye shortage threatens dye craftsmen

Ryukyu indigo dye shortage threatens dye craftsmen

June 7, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Maki Nagamine

A shortage of Ryukyu indigo, the dye favored for a number of traditional Okinawan dyeing techniques such as bashofu, miyakojofu, and Ryukyu-kasuri has cast a shadow over Okinawa’s artisan community. This is due to factors such as salt damage...

Governor Onaga announces lawsuit to demand national government obtain reef crushing permit for Henoko construction

Governor Onaga announces lawsuit to demand national government obtain reef crushing permit for Henoko construction

June 8, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the evening of June 7, Governor Takeshi Onaga held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office, and stated his intention to bring a lawsuit against the national government. The lawsuit will aim to put a stop to seawall construction work that the Okinawa...

Tokyo MX asks journalist Yoshioka to cover Okinawa base issues after News Joshi controversy

Tokyo MX asks journalist Yoshioka to cover Okinawa base issues after News Joshi controversy

June 4, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tokyo Metropolitan Television Broadcasting Corporation (Tokyo MX) has faced controversy since the January 2 airing of a segment of its program “News Joshi” (News Girls), due to content such as Okinawa’s anti-base movement proponents being likened to terrorists....

Hello baby! A baby of false killer whale born

Hello baby! A baby of false killer whale born

June 2, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

A false killer whale, which is a type of dolphin, gave birth to a baby on May 23 at the Ocean Expo Park in Motobu Town. This is the first birth of the species to happen at the park for 17 years. Momo, the mother of the baby, was rescued near Yomitan.

This...

Researchers to establish a new association to request return of Ryukyuan remains

Researchers to establish a new association to request return of Ryukyuan remains

June 1, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Takahiro Miyagi

In June, researchers from Okinawa and Kansai will set up a new organization to tackle the issue of human remains not yet being returned to Okinawa. Anthropologists brought at least 26 bodies of the Ryukyuans out of Mumujana grave in Nakijin...

With first memorial service for Okinawan POWs in Hawaii, Japan is obligated to collect remains of fallen

June 6, 2017 by Ryukyu Shimpo

“The memorial service for Okinawan prisoners of war in Hawaii,” which honors the 12 Okinawans who were captured during the Battle of Okinawa, then taken to a prison camp in Hawaii where they died, was just held for the first time in Honolulu.

The twelve...

First memorial service held for 12 Okinawan POWs who died in Hawaii

First memorial service held for 12 Okinawan POWs who died in Hawaii

June 5, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Chie Tome reports from Hawaii

On June 4 local time, at Jikoen Hongwanji in Honolulu, a memorial service was held to mourn 12 Okinawan POWs who died in Hawaii. The 12 were among many Okinawans who were held as prisoners of war in the Battle of Okinawa and transferred...

Two local protestors rushed to hospital while riot police clear Camp Schwab gate

Two local protestors rushed to hospital while riot police clear Camp Schwab gate

June 2, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the morning of June 2, riot police removed protestors from Camp Schwab’s gate to allow the entrance of construction vehicles for the Futenma Air Station replacement facility in Henoko, Nago. As riot police removed protestors, one man and one woman were injured...