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January 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
Cherry blossom festivals have started in Motobu and Nakijin earlier than other parts of Japan. The flowers are in full bloom at the event sites. Walking under trees with the flowers colored in various shades of pink, the participants celebrated the arrival of spring. The events will continue until February 2.
In Motobu, the 36th Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival attracted many people. In the opening ceremony, Mayor Fumio Takara said, “I am grateful for the cherry blossom in full bloom this year and those who planted the trees.”
In Nakijin, the seventh Nakijin Castle Cherry Blossom Festival started in the ruins of Nakijin Castle, which have been registered as a world heritage site. The participants can enjoy illuminated trees both in Motobu and Nakijin this year.
(English translation by T&CT)
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January 16, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Okinawa Soba Development and Heritage Association has started selling a new Okinawa soba called Perfect Okinawa soba as a souvenir. It enjoyed popularity when limitedly sold in the Okinawa Foods Exhibition held outside the prefecture two years ago. The product uses traditional noodles and a uniquely developed soup.
With seasoned ribs of pork and Okinawa chilli peppers, the noodles for two people are on sale at 1,200 yen plus tax.
The branches of the association have been selling it since last December. The association plans to sell the product outside Okinawa.
The association presented the product in the Okinawa Foods Exhibition held at Hanshin Department Store in Osaka in May 2012. Okinawa soba restaurants owners of the association created the noodle after much trial and error. After the exhibition, they took another year to complete the product.
Masashi Nozaki (left) and Michio Taira of Mitsukura Foods, which created the noodle, promote the product. At the Ryukyu Shimpo office on January 15.
While the noodle presented at the exhibition used wood ashes of the banyan tree in the traditional way, the product for sale provided the same taste without using the ashes to make the quality of the noodle stable. The texture of the noodle is smooth but chewy. Added with sea tangle, the soup based on pork bone is plain with the unique flavor of sweetness and savoriness.
Mitsukura Foods, which owns a noodle factory, created the product. The half-dried noodle can be preserved for 90 days.
Masashi Nozaki, the director of the association head office, said, “The soup is the only one of its kind in Okinawa. Restaurants owners who are confident of their noodles, officially recommended the product. I would like people to taste it.”
Okinawa soba restaurants owners gathered to set up the association in August, 2011. Twenty-seven owners of famous soba restaurants from Motobu to Nanjo have joined the organization.
The association holds various events such as restaurant tours, restaurant rankings and exchange events for Okinawa soba fans to promote Okinawa soba culture.
For further details, call Mitsukura Foods at 098 (945) 2959.
(English translation by T&CT)
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January 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
The incumbent, Susumu Inamine, 68, who opposes moving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago, won his second term against Bunshin Suematsu, 65, a former Okinawa prefectural assembly member who backs the government’s relocation plan, in the Nago mayoral election on Janury 19. The focal issue of the election was the Futenma relocation to Henoko. Both the governments of Japan and the United States will find it difficult to implement the Henoko plan because the reelected mayor vows that he will reject it by exercising his full authority.
Inamine was recommended by the Social Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party, the Okinawa Social Mass Party and the People’s Life Party. Suematsu was recommended by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Inamine said, “Nago people have shown their good sense. I promise that I will fulfill my responsibility as the mayor to protect the safety and security of the residents, the property and environment of Nago. I will work hard leading the people.”
From his first term as mayor, Inamine insisted that he would reject the building of a new base on land and sea. During the election campaign this time, he asserted his opposition to building a new base to protect the natural environment for children in the future. He highlighted his achievements in industrial promotion, education and welfare for four years. He collected a wide range of support from independents and some conservative voters.
With support from Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, the central government and the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters, Suematsu promised to improve the welfare of the residents through policies for promotion of the northern area and government grants associated with new base construction plan. However, he failed to win the election.
Inamine’s being re-elected indicates that Nago residents have rejected Governor Nakaima’s approval of the Henoko landfill for relocating the Futenma base. The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding the governor’s resignation. Governor Nakaima may be losing his political power among the people.
(English translation by T&CT)
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January 13, 2014 Yoshiyuki Nakamura, correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo
The Okinawa Association of Hong Kong Urizun held a year-end party at the Okinawan tavern Izakaya in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
About 400 people took part in the party and enjoyed it. The head of the association Mayumi Matayoshi started the party, saying, “Not only people from Okinawa but also those who like the prefecture or have gone there all belong to the association!”
Last summer, the association held a charity bazaar for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The association members helped with the eisa event at the sports festival of the Japanese school of Hong Kong last October.
After the participants introduced themselves, they played Uta Sanshin and guitar. They were excited about the quizzes on Okinawa. Even though the association holds its events irregularly, it connects Okinawan people living in Hong Kong with those involved in the prefecture. The association stimulates them.
(English translation by T&CT)
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January 10, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
The plaintiffs group and legal team of 126 people has been seeking cancellation of the approval of the Henoko landfill by initiating an administrative lawsuit. They held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office on January 9. The suit is against the Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima. The governor approved last December the application to carry out the landfill at Henoko to move U.S. Futenma Air Station.
Article 4 of the Public Water Body Reclamation Act requires that the landfill work properly and reasonably use national land. The act also requires the work to be environmentally friendly. The landfill approval by the governor does not meet the requirements of the act. The plaintiffs and legal team are filing a suit against the Okinawa Prefectural Government. They seek cancellation of the approval. At the same time of the filing the action, they seek the stay of execution of the approval.
The plaintiffs are six residents of nearby neighborhoods such as Henoko and Kushi, 19 citizens from other parts of Nago, and 101 residents from other parts of Okinawa. The fishers, eco-tour operators and nature photographers will take part in the lawsuit. Destroying the environment adversely affects their livelihoods. The owners of land within Camp Schwab will also participate.
The leader of the plaintiffs, Hiroshi Ashitomi, said, “We will do our best to preserve the sea of Henoko where dugongs and sea turtles live.” He pointed out that the government is pushing on with the plan for reclamation without making known the fact that the area is a spawning ground for sea turtles and a feeding area for dugongs. He criticized Nakaima, saying, “The Japanese government is lying to the people of Okinawa during these proceedings. Approving the proposal shows that he and the government are treating the Okinawan people as fools.”
The head of the secretariat, Shunji Miyake, on the defense team said, “This case is not one in which we are happy to just put up a fight; it is a case that we can’t afford to lose. We will do our best to have the approval revoked.”
Toshio Ikemiyagi became the leader of the defense group. The group plans to gather more plaintiffs and is considering filing more actions.
(English translation by T&CT and Lima Tokumori)
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January 8, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
January 8 (December 8 in the old lunar calendar) is the Muuchi Day to wish for children to grow up to be healthy and strong. Muuchi is a rice cake wrapped with sannin or shell ginger leaves. On January 7, cake shops in a market in Naha were crowded with customers and the smell from sannin leaves filled the street.
The rice cake shop Yamaya, which has four flavored items such as tonachin (sorghum flavor), opened at 9:00 a.m. As soon as the shop opened, customers came in and the white muuchi cakes were sold out before noon. On the day, a large amount of cakes delivered from the bakery were sold out.
Kazuko Shimabukuro, an 85-year-old who bought many cakes, said, “I came here last year on the Muuchi Day, but could not buy anything. I want to send them to my grandchild who lives in Kanagawa, so I came here a day earlier.”
Chikara-muuchi is rice cake that makes boys who eat it very strong. Hachi-muuchi is given to grandchildren who welcome the first muuchi day. Many grandmothers bought them. Customers carrying many cakes in their arms went home happy.
(English translation by T&CT and Hitomi Shinzato)
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January 11, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
Selected as poster girls for Orion Beer in 2014, Eika Nagayoshi, Sakiko Hanaoka and Aimi Uehara visited Ryukyu Shimpo on January 10.
Nagayoshi, who is from Itoman, said, “I would like many people to drink Orion beer.”
Hanaoka from Uruma said, “I would like to make many people smile.”
Uehara from Ishigaki said, “I would like to make many people know about Orion Beer.”
They are the 21st group of poster girls for the company. They started working in the first shipment ceremony on January 3.
They will promote Orion Beer and Okinawa at events held inside and outside the prefecture.
(English translation by T&CT)
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January 12, 2013 Yukito Kinjo, correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo
Flowers of narcissus are in full bloom at fields owned by Shunwa Uchima who runs a drugstore in Ie Village. The flowers fascinate the villagers and tourists.
Uchima has two fields near entrance to a fountainhead at north shore and east side of Iejima Airport. Later than usual, the flowers started to come into bloom at the end of the year. Yellow and white flower petals are now all over the fields. Exposed to the sun, the flowers whiffle in the wind like dancing.
Filled with a sweet smell in the air, the fields provide healing space for visitors.
To make the island full of the flowers, Uchima started to plant narcissus 30 years ago. Uchima said, “I would like people to enjoy adorable flowers and sweet smell.”
The blooming season lasts until the end of January. The visitors pay money to gather flowers.
For further details, call Uchima Drugstore at 098 (049) 2123.
(English translation by T&CT)
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December 18, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB) exhibited at the Hong Kong Wedding Expo 2013 held from December 13 to 15 in Hong Kong. Ten companies from Okinawa, including the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association and the Chiyoda Bridal House, had a presence in the Okinawa booth. A total of 617 couples visited the booth, with 78 of them making tentative reservations that same day, and 30 couples entering into contracts with companies.
The staff in the Okinawa booth received many inquiries about wedding photographs as well as legal wedding services that are recognized as marriage for customers in Hong Kong.
According to a survey carried out in Hong Kong in 2012, a newly married couple spends about 3.75 million yen on their wedding. With 58,400 newly married couples tying the knot that year, the wedding industry in Hong Kong is worth about 219.3 billion yen.
Representatives of the Hong Kong office of the Okinawa Prefectural Government said, “We will publicize our legal wedding services and try to take advantage of Okinawa being a resort destination close to Hong Kong. We can create a point of difference from our competitors.”
(English translation by T&CT)
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December 14, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On December 13, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) appointed Kurara Chibana, a 31-year-old model from Okinawa, as their first national ambassador to Japan. She will carry out a public relations role for the WFP during her two-year tenure. At the swearing-in ceremony at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Chibana said, “Through my passion and drive I would like to convey the mission of the WFP to as many people as possible. I will go wherever emergency relief efforts are happening.” Originally from Naha, Chibana came second in the Miss Universe Competition in 2006. Since her appointment as a WFP Celebrity Partner in 2007, she has been involved in public relations activities for school lunch programs in developing countries.
WFP’s Assistant Executive Director Elisabeth Rasmusson said at the press conference that they are proud to welcome Kurara Chibana as their first national ambassador to Japan. Rasmusson referred to the plight of the people in the Philippines, saying that in some cases food cannot be delivered because of significant damage to infrastructure. Reflecting on when she visited the Philippines after a typhoon hit in 2009, Chibana said, “Despite there being less news coverage now, the reconstruction has by no means ended. I would people to help us with fund-raising.”
(English translation by T&CT)
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December 31, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo
On December 23, the Okinawa Jazz Association held a Christmas concert at the Naha Civic Hall. This is the first part of a series focusing on jazz vocalists. The OJA Jazz Orchestra and COCKTAIL played various songs, including several jazz standards. Takako Afuso, Ryoji Tokito and other singers sang on the stage with their deep voices.
Besides Afuso and Tokito, Kazuyo Nishihira, Eru Yonashiro and Arisa Muto, Asakazu Goeku and Yukiko Yamakawa, Wakayan joined the stage as vocalists. Last year’s performance showcased the evolution of Okinawan jazz from the turbulent postwar period to the present-day. This year saw joint performances by nationally-prominent Okinawan vocalists. Their colorful vocals drew great applause from the audience and painted a brilliant picture for the future of “Uchina-jazz.”
Shoei Uehara, the president of the association, reported in his opening speech that they received the Choho Miyara Music Award in 2013. He said, “We could receive the award with our fans’ support.”
(English translation by T&CT)
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