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1,500 people stage protest rally 20 years after agreement to close Futenma base

1,500 people stage protest rally 20 years after agreement to close Futenma base

April 13, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

April 12 marked 20 years since Tokyo and Washington agreed to close the U.S. Futenma base. On the afternoon of April 12 at Kenmin Hiroba in Naha, a citizens organization, “All Okinawa Kaigi”, aimed at preventing the construction of a new base in Henoko, held a rally calling for closure of the Futenma base and the cancellation of the new base’s construction. According to the organizer, about 1,500 people took part in the rally.

Nago Mayor Susumu...

 

University of the Ryukyus contributes 69.4 billion yen to economy

University of the Ryukyus contributes 69.4 billion yen to economy

April 8, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The University of the Ryukyus recently researched the economic impact the university has on the local economy. On March 30, they presented their calculation that the economic ripple effect was 69.4 billion yen, with an economic impact ratio of 1.68 times. The economic...

Editorial: Twenty years wasted since Futenma closure agreement

April 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

In twenty years, a newborn infant grows into a full-fledged adult. If a policy cannot be implemented over the course of two decades, there is something fundamentally wrong with that policy.

Today marks twenty years since the day that representatives of the...

Kuniyoshi retires from gathering remains of war dead after 60 years

Kuniyoshi retires from gathering remains of war dead after 60 years

April 8, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

In March, 77-year-old Isamu Kuniyoshi retired from his volunteer role collecting the remains of war dead found in former Japanese military bases in Okinawa. He is stepping down due to his weakening health.

Kuniyoshi had engaged in these activities for about...

Fundraising for ancient Ryukyuan sailing experiment reaches 20 million yen

Fundraising for ancient Ryukyuan sailing experiment reaches 20 million yen

April 6, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

An online fundraising campaign in support of a project organized by the National Museum of Nature and Science (NMNS) reached its goal of 20 million yen on April 4. The project, which is called a “Full Verification of 30,000-year-old Navigation”, aims to verify...

Colorful flowers bloom during Urizun period in Tokashiki

Colorful flowers bloom during Urizun period in Tokashiki

April 4, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Hideaki Yoneda

Tennoume (Ribes ambiguum) and Easter lilies bloomed in the wilderness of Tokashiki Island. The rupestrine flowers are found on the beach and bloom during the Urizun period from April to May.

Tennoume, which is also called Izasonsho,...

Flight between Naha and Seoul to start in May

April 5 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Korean Air Lines announced on April 4 that it will start a round trip between Naha and Seoul from May 5. The airline will operate one flight per day. It will be the first time Korean Air Lines has operated a regular flight between Okinawa and Korea. A Boeing 777 containing...

Citizens call for removal of Futenma base 20 years after Japan and US agreed to close it

Citizens call for removal of Futenma base 20 years after Japan and US agreed to close it

April 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 10, at a park in Oyama, Ginowan, near Futenma U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, citizen groups rallied for the removal of the base fence and the return of military land. Two decades have passed since the governments of Japan and the United States agreed to...

ODB withdraws document for GSDF deployment to Miyako Island over groundwater issue

April 5, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

At the end of last year a letter of intent (LOI) for the plan for deployment of the Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) to Miyako Island was delivered to the island’s local government by the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB). The LOI must be agreed upon prior to execution...

Seven hundred protest Medoruma arrest, continued oppression

Seven hundred protest Medoruma arrest, continued oppression

April 7, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 6, an Okinawan group opposing military base relocation within Okinawa organized an urgent protest rally held in front of the gate to U.S. Camp Foster in Kitanakagusuku. According to the organizers, 700 people joined the rally, where they raised their voices...

Yomitan villagers pray for eternal peace 71 years after US forces landed

Yomitan villagers pray for eternal peace   71 years after US forces landed

April 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 1, 1945, 71 years ago, U.S. forces landed on the beach of Yomitan Village. On a radio program in the afternoon, Mayor Denjitsu Ishimine called for residents to remember the lessons of war: “We should not forget the day, April 1, and we would like to pray...