Top News

An escaping crocodile captured at Chatan restaurant

An escaping crocodile captured at Chatan restaurant

April 13, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Around 8:43 a.m. on April 12, the police received a phone call that a reared crocodile had escaped from a restaurant in Mihama district of Chatan. The restaurant was temporarily closed for renovations. At 9:55 a.m., the police officers found the crocodile at a site located at the back of the restaurant. After about an hour, they captured the reptile with the help of staff from the Okinawa Zoo & Museum. According to the Okinawa City Police Office, the crocodile...

 

Okinawan makeup artist shows her talent at international competitions

Okinawan makeup artist shows her talent at international competitions

April 10, 2014 Naoki Isa of Ryukyu Shimpo

Thirty-three-year-old Akiko Yamakawa from Nago City has been training to become a top makeup artist in the United States. Although she could not speak English in the beginning, she set her mind on success and moved to the United States at the age of...

OPG to interview Okinawan Americans who worked for the U.S. military during the Battle of Okinawa

April 10, 2014 Masatoshi Inafuku of Ryukyu Shimpo

In this fiscal year, the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) will carry out a project to interview and collect the stories of Okinawan Americans who worked for the U.S. military during the Battle of Okinawa.

It will be the first time...

Conference urges Okinawans to reclaim the title of the Japan’s longest-living people

Conference urges Okinawans to reclaim the title of the Japan's longest-living people

April 11, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

A conference aimed at reclaiming Okinawa’s status as the home of Japan’s longest living people was held on April 10. Seventy-one organizations, including the Okinawa Prefectural Government and economic and medical organizations took part in it. The conference...

Ministry of Defense requests permission from Nago City to use Henoko fishing port for reclamation work for new base

April 14, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense has asked the Nago City Office if it can use the Henoko fishing port as a storage space for reclamation materials as it pushes on with the plan to build an alternative facility for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station...

Remains of former Japanese soldier returned to his family 69 years after his death

Remains of former Japanese soldier returned to his family 69 years after his death

April 8, 2014 Yoko Shima of Ryukyu Shimpo

The remains of a former Japanese soldier found in Urasoe Maeda in July last year were returned to his family members, who live in Machida, Tokyo, on April 7. DNA analysis has identified the remains of Kozo Tabata, who was a 33-year-old corporal of the...

Shisa Day event at Tsuboya

<em>Shisa</em> Day event at Tsuboya

April 4, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 3, the opening ceremony of the 13th Shisa Day event was held at Tsuboya, Naha. The Tsuboya Pottery Museum has a display of 29 ceramic shisa works made by Okinawan craftsmen. This exhibition will be held until April 20. Shisa is a traditional...

Yonaguni municipal government signs land lease contract with Ministry of Defense

April 1, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

On March 31, Yonaguni town officially leased its land to the Ministry of Defense. The Japanese government plans to station a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force coastal surveillance unit on Yonaguni Island. On April 19, the government will the groundbreaking ceremony....

Ishigaki Island chosen as the best diving spot in Japan for 14 years in a row

Ishigaki Island chosen as the best diving spot in Japan for 14 years in a row

April 6, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ishigaki Island has won the top spot in Japan for 14 consecutive years at the Dive & Travel Awards hosted by monthly magazine Marine Diving. The winners were selected by the magazine’s readers, who voted for their favourite diving spots. Okinawa Main Island...

Chinese classic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom era published

Chinese classic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom era published

April 1, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo

With the help of Okinawan researchers, Fudan University of China has published 36 books collecting Chinese classic documents and books that were written during the Ryukyu Kingdom era.

Japanese and Chinese researchers worked together to collect over 70 documents...

Okinawa City to be an Eisa Hub

Okinawa City to be an <em>Eisa</em> Hub

April 2, 2014 Masahiko Miyagi of Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa City, which declares itself as the town of Eisa, has created a plan for the first dedicated hub building for the Okinawa traditional drum-dance. The location will be at the Goya intersection of the city. The building occupies about...