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National government files new lawsuit against Okinawa, bringing Henoko issue back to court

National government files new lawsuit against Okinawa, bringing Henoko issue back to court

July 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

In the conflict over the construction of a new U.S. military base in Henoko, Nago City as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, the central government files a lawsuit against the Okinawa prefectural government shortly before 9 a.m. on July 22, arguing that it was illegal for Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga not to comply with a rectification order from the national government demanding that he reinstate the Henoko land...

 

[Extra] Riot police remove local citizens blocking construction of US military helipads in Takae

July 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

On July 22 at about 6 a.m., the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) announced that new helipad construction work at the Northern Training Area, which is located in Higashi Village and Kunigami Village, had begun. Materials and vehicles to be used to start...

Okinawa street performers establish staffing agency RPC to allocate performers

Okinawa street performers establish staffing agency RPC to allocate performers

July 14, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

In April, the Ryukyu Performers Connection (RPC) agency was set up to allocate dancers, street performers, artists and other performers in Okinawa to various events. The agency will be a single point of contact for event managers and performers to negotiate casting...

Project team recreates grass boats’ voyage of 30,000 years ago from Yonaguni Island

Project team recreates grass boats’ voyage of 30,000 years ago from Yonaguni Island

July 18, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 17, a research team working on a project for the National Museum of Nature and Science sailed grass boats for the first time from Yonaguni Island to the water between Taketomi Town and Iriomote Island. The project is meant to investigate routes humans 30,000...

60 people gather to make a pledge for peace as Taiwan monument erected

60 people gather to make a pledge for peace as Taiwan monument erected

June 26, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Taiwan No To monument was erected for Taiwan’s World War Two war dead, at the Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni, Itoman city. A completion ceremony was held on June 25. The fourth memorial service for the Taiwanese war dead was also held on the same day, and 60...

Okinawa governor condemns helipad construction in Takae

Okinawa governor condemns helipad construction in Takae

July 14, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 14, Deputy chief cabinet secretary Kazuhiro Sugita visited Okinawa to attend a working group meeting between Okinawa and Japan concerning Okinawa’s revocation of its approval of land reclamation for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air...

Riot squad sent to subdue Takae protesters similar in scale to that sent to eradicate yakuza gangsters

Riot squad sent to subdue Takae protesters similar in scale to that sent to eradicate yakuza gangsters

July 18, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Ryota Nakamura

Approximately ten hours after the polls closed in the Upper House election, riot police formed a human wall in front of the main gate to the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area in Takae, Higashi Village, and materials relating to helipad...

Governors establish council body for nationwide discussion of Okinawa base burden reduction

Governors establish council body for nationwide discussion of Okinawa base burden reduction

July 14, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 14, a meeting of the National Governors’ Association (NGA) Special Committee for General Strategies and Government Oversight opened in Tokyo. At the meeting, the Special Committee agreed to establish a council body to discuss reduction of Okinawa’s base...

Editorial: Governor should declare opposition to resumption of Takae helipad construction

July 13, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The United States military and the government should cancel their plan to build helipads in the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area near Takae in Higashi Village.

The construction of helipads to be used by Osprey will harm not only the living environment...

Tensions between protesters and riot police mount over construction of U.S. Marine Corps helipads in Takae

Tensions between protesters and riot police mount over construction of U.S. Marine Corps helipads in Takae

July 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

At 6:00 a.m. on July 11, one night after the Upper House election ended, the Okinawa Defense Bureau re-started preparation work for construction of U.S. Marine Corps helipads in Takae, Higashi.

About 100 riot police and about 20 security guards employed by...

Iha ambitious for abandonment of Henoko Base project upon first-time election to House of Councillors

Iha ambitious for abandonment of Henoko Base project upon first-time election to House of Councillors

July 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 11, Ryukyu Shimpo invited former mayor of Ginowan City and newly elected independent to the Okinawa At-large district of the House of Councillors to the Ryukyu Shimpo head office, Yoichi Iha, to ask him about Futenma Air Station relocation and constitutional...