April 5, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
Okinawa’s stargazers had a frustrating night on April 4 when clouds largely obscured the much anticipated lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth, moon and sun are aligned together, with the earth in the middle. The light from the sun is deflected through the earth’s atmosphere, giving the moon’s surface an unusual reddish brown hue. Thankfully, observers were able to catch some glimpses of the mysterious phenomenon during breaks in...
April 4, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) has for the first time published a booklet to help elementary and junior high students learn Shimakutuba – the local dialects of Okinawa. The booklets are designed for fifth-grade elementary school students and second-grade...
April 6, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Tomb Sweeping Festival called shimi started in various places in Okinawa on April 5. Many families visited the graveyards of their ancestors. At the Shikina-en in Naha, people offered various foods, including fruits and sweets to their ancestors. They reported...
April 2, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 1, 22 Japanese intellectuals, including Kenichi Miyamoto, emeritus professor at Osaka City University and the Nobel Prize winner, novelist Kenzaburo Oe, released a statement seeking an immediate stop to the reclamation work at Henoko, Nago. The governments...
April 2, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Island-Wide Council (Shimagurumikaigi) is to set up a fund as part of its campaign against the new U.S. base in Henoko. The money will be used to spread the message that public opinion in Okinawa opposes the Henoko relocation. The fund will help raise awareness...
April 2, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
A third generation Okinawan from Hawaii has been getting to know his local relatives. Chris Chitose China met his second cousin 73-year-old Sadao for the first time in Yomitan on March 28. Chris’s grandfather and Sadao’s grandfather were brothers.
Chris...
April 2, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 1, citizens of a sit-in protest on Henoko beach marked 4,000 days since the sit-in began in 2004. It will mark the 11th anniversary on April 19. The protest began in response to a Japanese government marine boring survey, in preparation for the construction...
April 6, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
A protest by 84 people, including members of Japan’s national parliament, took place in front of the gate at U.S. Marine Camp Schwab on April 4. The protesters called for a halt to the construction of a new base. The demonstration was organized by the Committee...
April 6, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga have held a stormy meeting at a Naha hotel. Suga said, “Giving up Henoko relocation could lead to Futenma Air Station becoming a permanent fixture. Based on applicable laws and regulations...
March 26, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On March 25, the 7th Okinawa International Movie Festival, “Laugh & Peace” opened at the Tropical Beach in Ginowan.
Appearing on the red carpet, marking the festival’s opening, were Okinawan comedy duo Garage Sale, other comedians, idols, actors...
April 1, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On March 31, the U.S. military returned to Japan a 51-hectare housing area at Camp Zukeran (West Futenma Housing area) in Ginowan. This is part of a 2013 agreement between the governments of the two countries to reduce the U.S. military presence south of Kadena airbase....
Webcam(Kokusai Street)