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Sharp increase in Taiwanese tourists visiting Okinawa

Sharp increase in Taiwanese tourists visiting Okinawa

August 18, 2013 Wu Li Jun of Ryukyu Shimpo of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The number of foreign tourists coming to Okinawa has been increasing for five consecutive months since March. Taiwanese tourists were the largest group, at around 50 percent of the total. Their number has been increasing every month since February. The number of Taiwanese tourists to Okinawa from January to July 2013 amounted to 131,700, which is up 2.2 times on the same period last year.

People involved in the Taiwanese...

 

War victims in South Sea Islands file lawsuit against government

War victims in South Sea Islands file lawsuit against government

August 15, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

War victims in what were formerly as known the Nanyo Gunto (South Sea Islands) during World War II filed a lawsuit with the Naha District Court on August 15. They have sought an apology and damages of 11 million yen per person from the government .The plaintiffs...

Kadena resumes HH-60 helicopter flights

Kadena resumes HH-60 helicopter flights

August 17, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Kadena Air Base resumed HH-60 rescue helicopter flights on August 16. The U.S. military had suspended flight training for the HH-60 helicopter after one crashed in the Central Training Area near Camp Hansen in Ginoza on August 5, so only eleven days had passed...

Prayer for rain comes true in Kumejima

Prayer for rain comes true in Kumejima

August 12, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

For the first time in 15 years, on August 11 at Chinbe dunchi, in Nakachi, Kumejima Town held a ritual calling for rain. Chinbe dunchi is the main place of worship in Kumejima. About 150 residents, including Mayor Choko Taira prayed for rain. The town office said...

Children enjoy survival camp on uninhabited island

Children enjoy survival camp on uninhabited island

August 15, 2013 Hideaki Yoneda, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The National Okinawa Youth Friendship Center held a survival camp for children on an uninhabited island off Tokashiki from July 28 to August 3. Participants from all over the country took part in the camp on Gishippu Island,...

Kumejima tug-of-war, prayer for rain

Kumejima tug-of-war, prayer for rain

August 18, 2013 Tetsuya Nakajima, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The 13th Kumejima Festival revived the island’s great tug-of-war after a gap of 13 years in Hureai Park in Kumejima on August 17. Many locals and people from off the island took part in the event.

The rope used...

Nine years since U.S. helicopter crash onto Okinawa International University: Protesters stage a “die-in rally” in front of Marine base

Nine years since U.S. helicopter crash onto Okinawa International University: Protesters stage a “die-in rally” in front of Marine base

August 13, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 13, protesters staged a “die-in rally” in front of Camp Foster, Kitanakagusuku to mark the ninth anniversary of the U.S. marine helicopter crash onto Okinawa International University. About 70 people took part in “Memorial Tuesday,” held...

Oliver Stone visits Okinawa

Oliver Stone visits Okinawa

August 15, 2013 Futoshi Hanashiro of Ryukyu Shimpo

American film director Oliver Stone arrived in Okinawa on August 13. That day, he visited Okinawa International University, which marked nine years since the U.S. military helicopter crashed onto its campus. On August 14, Stone also visited...

More MV-22 Ospreys arrive on Futenma

More MV-22 Ospreys arrive on Futenma

August 12, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the morning of August 12, the U.S. Marine Corps resumed the deployment of additional MV-22 Osprey to Futenma Air Station. The U.S. military suspended this, considering the reaction of Okinawan residents after a Kadena based HH-60 rescue helicopter crashed in...

Oliver Stone says the war isn’t over in Okinawa

Oliver Stone says the war isn't over in Okinawa

August 15, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ryukyu Shimpo invited two-time Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone to an event celebrating the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the newspaper at the theater in the Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan. Okinawa Television supported the event,...

Okinawa’s largest plant factory to be built in Ogimi

Okinawa's largest plant factory to be built in Ogimi

August 8, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In October, the largest plant factory in Okinawa, that could produce 800,000 lettuce leaves per year, will start operating in Ogimi Village. On August 7, Ogimi Farm, which manages the factory, held a press conference to explain the establishment at a rental incubation...