Top News

Majority of Okinawan companies claim labor shortage affecting their operation

February 25, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Development Finance Corporation, on February 25, revealed the result of a survey on labor scarcity and its impact. The companies that answered “already facing scarcity of employees” and “expecting to face scarcity of employees,” accounted for 54.4 percent of respondents. The shortage is felt most in the food and beverage and accommodation industries, with 90.9 percent of companies lacking both full-time employees and casual...

 

Acclaimed translator Kayoko Ikeda supports protest against Henoko landfill

Acclaimed translator Kayoko Ikeda supports protest against Henoko landfill

February 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 26, Kayoko Ikeda, who is a well-known translator of various kinds of texts including German literature, visited Camp Schwab gate in the Henoko district of Nago. Her translation works include Night and Fog, Sophie’s World, and If the...

Naha airport International cargo shipments amounts to over 180,000 tons

February 26, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

According to the statistics by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, international cargo shipments to and from Naha airport in 2014 amounted to 185,087 tons – double the amount in 2008. The figure is twice that of 2008, when All Nippon...

US military carries out Osprey training at new helipad in Takae for the first time

US military carries out Osprey training at new helipad in Takae for the first time

February 26, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The U.S. military plans to build military helipads as a condition of the partial return of its Northern Training Area. At a newly built helipad in the N4 area on February 24, local citizens confirmed the U.S. military had carried out MV-22 Osprey aircraft training....

Big catch flags waving on Lunar New Year in Itoman

Big catch flags waving on Lunar New Year in Itoman

February 19, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 19, which is the Lunar New Year, the fishing village of Itoman was surrounded by a vibrant scene. Many fishing ships hoisted colorful flags praying for good catch and safety. Worshippers, who have wooden boxes, containing food offerings to gods, visited...

Increase in foreign tourists visiting Okinawa leads to shortage in hotel rooms

February 19, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo 

The number of foreign tourists visiting Okinawa rapidly increased during observation of the Lunar New Year which began on February 18. The shortage of hotel rooms in Okinawa has been due to overlapping events such as professional baseball spring training...

Naha City Assembly adopts a resolution asking the Japanese government to stop taking excessive actions against Henoko protesters

February 23, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

Naha City Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Japanese government to stop the land reclamation work at Henoko to build a new U.S. air base and taking excessive actions against citizens protesting the work (33 votes in favor versus 4 against)....

Henoko sit-in protesters released after being detained by US forces

Henoko sit-in protesters released after being detained by US forces

February 24, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the evening of February 23, the Naha District Public Prosecutor’s Office released Hiroji Yamashiro, 62, the director of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center, and Daigaku Tanimoto, 63, from Miyakojima City. The two men were arrested on suspicion of violating...

Samba duo Miyagi sisters become tourism ambassadors for Ogimi Village

Samba duo Miyagi sisters become tourism ambassadors for Ogimi Village

February 23, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 16, the Samba duo Miyagi sisters became the first tourism ambassadors for Ogimi Village. Their parents were from the Nerome district of the village. The Miyagi sisters have been participating actively in Brazil where samba dance originated. A spokesperson...

Yonaguni referendum shows majority favor JGSDF deployment

Yonaguni referendum shows majority favor JGSDF deployment

February 23, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ministry of Defense plans to place a coastal monitoring unit for the Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on Yonaguni Island. A referendum asking residents if they accept the unit was held on February 22. The polls showed that a majority favored the JSDF deployment....

Seeking a course: forum to discuss self-determination for Okinawa

Seeking a course: forum to discuss self-determination for Okinawa

February 16, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 15 at the Okinawa International University, Ryukyu Shimpo and the Okinawa International University Institute of General Industrial Research held a forum called “Seeking a course-discussions of Okinawa’s right to self-determination.”

Intellectual...