Top News

Nishimura wins Itoman Hare on Yukkanuhi

Nishimura wins Itoman Hare on Yukkanuhi

June 8, 2016 Ryuykyu Shimpo

On June 8, which was May 4 in the Lunar Calendar, the Itoman Hare boat race was held at Itoman Harbor Central Area in Itoman City to usher in the fishing season with prayers for a safe voyage and a big catch. At Nashiro of Itoman City and Ou Island in Nanjo City, Hare was carried out from the early morning and exciting races were staged under blue skies.

Itoman Hare started off with Ugan Bare (a traditional canoe race, which is also kind of prayer), raced...

 

Praying for life-saving cave and peace at Shiohira Gongen Festival

Praying for life-saving cave and peace at Shiohira Gongen Festival

June 10, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

A ceremony to give thanks for the natural cave that saved more than 500 evacuees during the Battle of Okinawa was held on June 9. The ceremony, Shiohira Gongen Festival, took place in front of the cave known as “Shiohira Gongen cave” located in between Shiohira...

Yomitan sets up executive committee for rally against suspected slaying of Okinawan woman by ex-US marine

Yomitan sets up executive committee for rally against suspected slaying of Okinawan woman by ex-US marine

June 10, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Following the recent arrest of a U.S. military employee on suspicion of murdering a woman, a protest rally will be held at Onoyama Athletic Park in Naha on June 19. More than 20 organizations in Yomitan Village set up an executive committee, in which all the villagers...

VFP’s members announce statement: “We feel shame and deep regret,” on US military violence against women in Okinawa

VFP's members announce statement:

June 9, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Veterans For Peace (VFP)’s members, including Douglas Lummis, Daniel Broudy and Ann Wright released a statement regarding the May, 2016 crime committed against an Okinawan Woman allegedly by a former U.S. Marine in Uruma City, at a press conference held at the...

Protest gathering to body-dumping incident calls for withdrawal of all US bases from Okinawa

Protest gathering to body-dumping incident calls for withdrawal of all US bases from Okinawa

June 9, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

‘No More US Military Bases in Okinawa,’ a gathering of mourning and protest to the incident of a base employee dumping the dead body of a young Okinawan woman, and to address structural violence of the U.S.
military in Okinawa, took place on June 8 in Furujima,...

Long-standing resort in Okinawa turns to Sheraton after 24 Years

Long-standing resort in Okinawa turns to Sheraton after 24 Years

June 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Sunmarina Hotel, a long-established resort hotel in Fuchaku, Onna Village, re-opened as globally known hotel brand “Sheraton Okinawa Sunmarina” on June 1. There will be 46 new rooms and a Wellness Center equipped with an indoor pool opening in the property later...

Trapped sea turtle saved on Tonaki Island beach

Trapped sea turtle saved on Tonaki Island beach

June 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Nana Sasahara

On May 30, at Yubukuhama beach on Tonaki Island, a local resident found a green sea turtle unable to move in the sand and notified the village office.

The turtle was 130 cm in length. It seemed that the turtle was trapped in a hole, which...

US military contractor re-arrested on suspicion of murder and rape

June 9, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition

Regarding the discovery of a woman’s body in the central part of Okinawa Island, on the afternoon of June 9, the Okinawa prefectural police re-arrested former U.S. Marine and current U.S. military employee Kenneth Franklin Shinzato (formerly Gadson),...

Editorial: Ruling parties successful in prefectural assembly election, popular opposition to Henoko relocation made clear once again

June 6, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The will of the people has been made clear once again. It is unacceptable for the Japanese government to continue to ignore and trample upon the Okinawan people’s will.

Okinawa’s twelfth prefectural assembly election drew nationwide attention, with people...

Editorial: Reality of “period of unity and mourning” is drunk US Navy sailor driving against traffic on national highway

June 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

A U.S. Navy sailor stationed on Kadena Air Base was driving under the influence of alcohol and in the wrong direction along National Route 58 in Mizugama, Kadena Town, and crashed into two kei cars (small vehicles with specific tax benefits in Japan) successively,...

Over 40 percent of Okinawans want bases withdrawn and 53 percent want Marines withdrawn

Over 40 percent of Okinawans want bases withdrawn and 53 percent want Marines withdrawn

June 3, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Between May 30 and June 1 Ryukyu Shimpo and Okinawa Television Broadcasting Company (OTV) jointly conducted a public opinion poll related to the recent incident of a U.S. military base employee dumping the body of an Okinawan woman. The poll targeted Okinawans over...