Members of Uechi-ryu Minamihara Shurei Kan (Director Atsushi Shimabukuro) and Ryukyu Kobudo Minamihara Shurei Kan (Director Tsuneo Shimabukuro) practiced their first training of 2017 on the morning of January 7 at Katsuren Castle Ruins, the World Heritage Site in Uruma City. Twenty-five disciples and students took part in the training and worked up a sweat, feeling the breath of Lord Amawari, who was the owner of the castle.
They performed and practiced their karate forms such as “Seisan” and “Seiryu”. Tourists and visitors dropped by to took pictures of them.
Thirteen-year-old Yoji Nakasone, who started to learn karate at the age of 6, said, “I was able to focus more than usual,” and added, “I want to win the best 3 in all the competitions in 2017 I will participate in.”
Director Tsuneo Shimabukuro said, “I would like to focus on spreading Kobudo martial arts this year.”
In 1879, around the time of the disposition of Ryukyu, or the annexation of Ryukyu, some Ryukyuans sought refuge in China to appeal for the salvation of the Ryukyu Kingdom. They eventually passed away and were buried in Beijing. Their burial site in Beijing is under threat of being developed without conducting an excavation survey. As of January 3, a private foundation and the Beijing mayor, which are responsible for the development of the burial site, decided on measures to restore and preserve the site. On the same day, Beijing University Professor Xu Yong, who has been urging the foundation and the Beijing mayor to work on restoring and preserving the site, notified Chairman Morikiyo Matayoshi of the Beijing-Ryukyuan Grave Restoration and Preservation Association about the news.
According to Chairman Matayoshi, the private foundation that is responsible for the development of the burial site has indicated that they are open to the idea of restoring and preserving the Ryukyuan graves. The Beijing mayor has also given his approval for this.
However, concrete plans regarding how the burial site will be restored and preserved, such as whether or not to build a monument and/or a memorial hall, have not been decided. Because of this, Beijing and Okinawa will need to decide on exactly how to go about restoring and preserving the burial site. Professor Xu has urged concerned groups and organizations in Beijing to restore and preserve the burial site, and has also acted as an intermediary for Okinawa. He recognizes that there is a need for the Okinawan prefecture to submit a written request.
Last April, the Beijing-Ryukyuan Grave Restoration and Preservation Association requested that the Okinawan prefecture urge the Chinese authorities to preserve the graves. Following this request, the Okinawan prefecture also worked to preserve the burial site by submitting a document dated May 13, 2016 to the Beijing mayor requesting for appropriate protective measures to be put in place.
There are plans to partially relocate some capital functions and construct a large theme park in the orchard area with the burial site. Last May, Okinawa researchers who viewed this as a serious problem established the Beijing-Ryukyuan Grave Visiting Group. They visited the burial site to meet with and consult the managers and landowners on whether building tombstones and caring for them would be possible. They also asked for the cooperation by the Beijing history researchers in researching, restoring, and preserving the burial site for the Ryukyuans, and received a positive response.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Burial site of Ryukyuans in Beijing
Place where Ryukyuans are buried in Zhangjiazhen of Tongzhou District in Beijing, China. Buried here are about 14 envoys and exchange students from Ryukyu, including petitioners, who appealed for the salvation of Ryukyu around the time of the disposition of Ryukyu, or the Ryukyu annexation. A tombstone for Wang Daye, who was a descendent of the warrior class from Kume Village and held the title of Peichin, also stood here. The tombstone is now preserved at the museum in the Tongzhou District.
(English translation by T&TC and Chelsea Ashimine)
On the evening of January 5, Governor Takeshi Onaga commented in an interview on the resumption of aerial refueling training exercises of MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft scheduled for the next day, following the recent crash on the shore of Abu, Nago. He says that at the same time that the Japanese government declares it is considering the feelings of Okinawans, it takes the stance of making the American military’s demands its highest priority. Additionally he insists that, “This causes great harm to the relationship of mutual trust [between Japan and Okinawa], and therefore we feel strong resentment.”
On top of this Onaga mentions that, as has been the Japanese government’s usual approach up to now, it unilaterally announced the resumption of training exercises without listening to the opinions of Okinawans. He says he is deeply dismayed this approach is being used again as the government disregards Okinawans.
Onaga stresses his intention to continue diligently pushing for the withdrawal of Osprey deployment in Okinawa. Additionally, he shares his idea to request an arrangement from the U.S. and Japanese governments that will let Okinawans be included in discussions between the U.S. military and Japanese government.
Recently, the Ryukyu Shimpo interviewed Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, 83, who serves as a female Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund), and she told us about her concern for Okinawa and the importance of peace. Regarding the planned construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago City, which is being pushed forward by the Japanese government in conjunction with the planned return of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Kuroyanagi prefaced her statement by saying that Okinawa’s problems are difficult, then said, “I think the opinions of the people who live there should be respected. If people in Okinawa are saying they do not want it, it should not be built.”
Kuroyanagi said she is aware that Okinawans expressed their opposition to the construction of a new base in Henoko in the Okinawa gubernatorial election, Nago mayoral election, and various other elections, and said, “I think the opinions of the people who live there should be respected. No matter what happens. If people in Okinawa are all saying they do not want it, it should not be built.”
“If such a beautiful ocean is harmed, I feel sorry for the dugong. If there is an option [of not building the base], it wouldn’t have to happen,” said Kuroyanagi.
Regarding constitutional revision, Kuroyanagi said, “I’m worried about the movement to change the constitution, which positions Japan as a country that absolutely does not engage in war and takes pride in that stance.” In particular, regarding Article 9, she spoke passionately, saying, “The peace constitution absolutely should not be changed. Three million people died in the last war we fought. That included young people with futures ahead of them.”
Kuroyanagi also talked about her experience in her later years of elementary school of the Tokyo firebombing and evacuating to Aomori. “There was nothing to eat and I lost weight because of malnutrition, and I got a rash all over my body. It was from protein deficiency. When I travel around the world for UNICEF activities I see many malnourished children. My own experience is one of the reasons I became a Goodwill Ambassador,” said Kuroyanagi. “I hope to be a Goodwill Ambassador until I am 100 years old.”
Governor Takeshi Onaga has begun making preparations for a visit to the United States at the end of the month with the purpose of making a direct appeal for stopping new base construction in Henoko, Nago. With the inauguration of the United States’ next president set to occur on January 20, Gov. Onaga plans to meet with the incoming heads of the Department of Defense and the State Department to give the Okinawan position regarding the base construction before the plans are set in stone, and to ask both the Japanese and U.S. governments to change their position that “Henoko is the only solution” to solve MCAS Futenma relocation issue.
This will be Gov. Onaga’s third visit to the United States related to the Henoko base construction issue since May, 2016. The visit coincides with inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump to not only inform the new administration the opinion of Okinawans and the political situation, but also with hopes of a “fresh start” after the previous two visits.
This plan for this visit is to hold a symposium that includes people capable of influencing the American government.
The Abe administration re-started construction on December 27, and while both governments work to continue this “set course” into the next administration, Gov. Onaga will approach people other than just government officials and urge the United States to reconsider the issue.
In his year-opening address to staff members of the Okinawa Prefectural Government on January 4, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga pledged to prevent land-reclamation in Henoko and the associated relocation of Futenma Air Station. Onaga said, “Following the statement requesting withdrawal of osprey deployment to Okinawa and immediate closure of Futenma Air Base, I would like to characterize prevention of the new base construction in Henoko as the pillar of my administration. I will employ every possible means to work on the issue and also embody my commitment to close Futenma base immediately and rescind osprey deployment to Okinawa.”
Referring to the past year, Onaga talked about the rape and murder of a 20-year-old local woman by a former marine and contractor stationed at Kadena Air base, the crash-landing accident of the U.S. military vertical takeoff and landing aircraft MV-22 Osprey, the loss of the Henoko lawsuit, new construction of helipads in the Northern Training Area, and the continuing of Osprey flight training. He said, “Various incidents and accidents related to U.S.military bases continue to threaten the safety of Okinawan people’s lives. This is far away from reducing the excessive base hosting burden of Okinawa.”
As well as base issues, Onaga pledged to tackle the issue of irregular employment. He also showed his willingness to work on issues such as the growing number of cruise ships visiting Okinawa, maintenance of Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Event (MICE) facilities, and streamlining logistics at the airport and ports.
2017 is the year of the Rooster. Sixty-four-year-old Rinkichi Teruya, who lives at Mizugama, Kadena, raises chan chickens, which are native to Okinawa. The chickens were showing off their beautiful high voices and their typical three-syllable sound at his house.
Chans are an Okinawa prefecture designated natural treasure. It is said the chickens came from China during the Ryukyu Kingdom era when wealthy people kept them as a pet to enjoy because of the sounds they make.
Teruya said, “They have very beautiful voice, figure and colorful feathers. I am fascinated by them.” He first began to keep them 15 years ago, and now raises 19 male and female chickens.
Chan contests, in which chan breeders compete over the quality and length of chan voices, are held every year. Teruya has won top prizes, including the champion title.
He declared his resolution for the New Year.
“In the year of the rooster, 2017, I want to have a more hopeful and shining year.”
On June 16, a “Patrolling Team for Okinawa Community Security” set up by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) in response to the assault and murder of a woman by a U.S. base employee revealed that they received 13 calls but no calls related to the U.S. military in half a year. On December 15 at the Prefectural Assembly Planning and Coordination Bureau, Director-General of the Okinawa Prefectural Police Community Safety Division Yoshiya Kajiwara made the announcement.
The Patrolling Team dispatched 20 cars initially and 100 cars after December to patrol downtown Okinawa. The patrolled hours are from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and there is no patrolling carried out late at night when many military-related incidents and accidents occur.
Regarding the patrol’s impact, Director of Police Administration Hiroshi Nakajima said, “Patrolling had a partial effect in preventing crimes and maintaining safety.”
In the meantime, incidents and accidents by U.S. military-related personnel keep occurring even though the U.S. military promised recurrence prevention and enforcement of discipline after the rape and murder of a woman by a U.S. military contractor. In June, a U.S. soldier drove the wrong way up Route 58 under the influence of alcohol and caused minor and serious injuries to two people. In September, another U.S. soldier caused a hit-and-run accident in Uruma City. In October, a U.S. soldier unleashed violence on a man walking on a street in Chatan Town. All of these crimes happened between midnight and early morning.
According to Director-General Kajiwara, the breakdown of the 13 calls to the Patrolling Team included five calls related to traffic, five related to a drunken person, two related to suspicious individuals, and one was about juvenile problems.
The editing committee for a project aimed at recovering the Ryukyu Kingdom’s diplomatic record or Rekidai Houan reported on its third plan on December 20. The committee, led by a professor emeritus, Seitoku Kinjo, reported to the prefectural school superintendent, Shojin Heshiki, the third basic plan for the projects envisioned after 2018. The report requests the project complete the publications of all the translation and footnotes by 2021 as well as start editing dictionaries and relevant documents.
The prefectural education board launched the project in 1989 and has worked on collection of materials in Japan, Taiwan, and China, as well as on editing the reprinted editions and its translation. The report will be reflected in the third plan for the fiscal year of 2016 to 2027. The superintendent Heshiki, who received the report said, “We would like to institute our basic plan accordingly to the report.”
On January 1, the annual New Year’s banquet began at Shurijo Castle Park in Naha, Okinawa. The event is held every year from January 1 to 3.
The Chouhaiokishiki, or Imperial Court New Year’s morning ceremony from the Ryukyu Kingdom era, was held on January 1 and 2. The ritual consisted of three parts.
The spectacular event attracted many tourists and families.
At Ninufanu-unufe, the first part of the event, a man playing the role of the king appeared and offered incense at an altar, with an entourage of the sanshikan (the council of three ministers) and the representatives of ordinary people.
All of the participants focused their minds intensely on a prayer for peace.
Miyuki Motoda, 44, visited from Haebaru with her two sons, who are at elementary school. She said, “Even now living in Okinawa, I don’t know enough about history. My children have reached an age to start understanding these things so I brought them here.”
Her son Shigeaki, a fifth-grade student from Haebaru Elementary School, said, “It was was more interesting than I expected. I was surprised really because the Chinese language was used [at the ritual].”
There is an insect that spends two years underground as larva and then comes out of the ground during an evening around Christmas in search of its soulmate. This romantic insect, the Tricholontha papagena, is a beetle endemic to the Amami and Okinawa Islands. In particular, most inhabit areas around Takae district of Higashi Village. These beetles emerge as adults once every two years. This year happened to be that year. As a result, on the evening of December 23, an excursion to observe these beetles in Takae was held under the supervision of Akino Miyagi, who researches butterflies. A total of 12 people from inside and outside of Okinawa participated.
While these beetles can be found all over the Okinawa Island, Takae and Aha of Kunigami Village by far has the largest population. Just recently on December 16, a male was found near Zone H of the Northern Training Area.
A male Tricholontha papagena clinging to a Ryukyu bamboo branch and spreading its big antennas wide to detect a female’s pheromones on the evening of December 23 at Takae of Higashi Village.
The weather was clear on December 23. Under a sky full of stars, participants carried flashlights in one hand as they walked deeper into the forest. A total of 12 male beetles, spreading their antennas wide, frantically trying to detect a female’s pheromones, were found in the light trap that was set up beforehand. Taking a closer look, the magnificent chest fur, which gives it its Japanese name, comes into view. The participants gently placed the beetle in their palms and observed the beetle. They broke into smiles as they realized that the beetles become cuter the longer they look at them.
Meanwhile, Miyagi who has continuously watched over Takae and its nature, let the following slip: “With the helipad construction going on, (the beetles) won’t be able to surface if the ground is covered with gravel and/or concrete. But if they don’t go underground, they will be eaten by predators, like birds.”
Yuko Numata, a 53-year-old from Saitama Prefecture, agrees with Miyagi. She said, “(These beetles) patiently wait two years underground for this moment. I was touched to hear about their admirable way of life in which they perish once they mate. I really wish man-made disasters, like the helipad construction, would not harm the wildlife.”
(English translation by T&CT and Chelsea Ashimine)
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
