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Kerama Islands to be designated as a national park

Kerama Islands to be designated as a national park

July 3, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Before the end of 2013, the Ministry of the Environment will designate the coast of the Kerama Islands as a national park. Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara announced this at a press conference on July 2. Famous for their precious coral reefs, the Kerama Islands have very clear water at shallow depths, serve as habitat for a high concentration of about 250 species of coral, and are a breeding ground for humpback whales. They will become the 31st national...

 

54th anniversary memorial ceremony of U.S. military jet crash onto Miyamori Elementary School

54th anniversary memorial ceremony of U.S. military jet crash onto Miyamori Elementary School

July 1, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Fifty-four years have passed since June 30, 1959, when a U.S. F-100 fighter from Kadena Air Base crashed into Miyamori Elementary School in Ishikawa City (currently Uruma City). The Ishikawa and Miyamori 630 Association held the 54th anniversary memorial ceremony...

Takae resident loses High Court battle

Takae resident loses High Court battle

June 25, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court rejected on June 25 an appeal by Masatsugu Isa, 51, who has been protesting against the construction of U.S. military helipads in Takae, Higashi.

The Okinawa Defense Bureau filed a lawsuit with the Naha District Court...

East Asian Critical Journals Conference aims to overcome nationalism

East Asian Critical Journals Conference aims to overcome nationalism

June 30, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The 5th East Asian Critical Journals Conference was held on June 29 and 30 at Okinawa University to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the quarterly journal Keshi-Kaji. Editors and researchers from Asian countries discussed working to create...

Henoko reclamation to cost 231 billion yen

Henoko reclamation to cost 231 billion yen

June 29, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 28, the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) made available to the public the application documents that the Okinawa Defense Bureau submitted to the OPG for permission to reclaim land at Henoko. They will be available for three weeks until July 18, at eight...

Okinawan leads Japan national team at 23rd World Children’s Baseball Fair

Okinawan leads Japan national team at 23rd World Children's Baseball Fair

June 27, 2013 Taichi Hirayasu of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The manager of the team, Rin Ono, said, “This will be a valuable experience for the children. I want them to grow through the event.”

Ono played baseball at Okinawa Fisheries High School. His team came second...

Yambaru kuina rescued from road accident released in forest

Yambaru kuina rescued from road accident released in forest

June 28, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 27, a female Yambaru kuina (Okinawan rail) rescued from a road accident was released in Yona, Kunigami. As of June 27, 20 road accidents this year have involved Yambaru kuina. This is the second highest figure after last year.

A local resident found...

Ginowan Assembly adopts resolution to protest against U.S. Marine redeployment

June 24, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On June 24, the Ginowan City Assembly unanimously adopted a protest resolution and a statement of written opinion on the United States Marine Corps redeployment. The Corps is planning to send more Marines to Okinawa, including aircraft to the Futenma in the Unit...

Filmmaker Junkerman to create movie about Okinawa

Filmmaker Junkerman to create movie about Okinawa

June 25, 2013 Naoki Isa of the Ryukyu Shimpo

American documentary filmmaker John Junkerman, 60, will make a documentary movie about the U.S. military base issue in Okinawa. The tentative title for the film is “Okinawa 1944-2014.” Currently living in Tokyo, Junkerman has been creating the...

Mural of coral in Okinawa

Mural of coral in Okinawa

June 23, 2013 Kyoko Agarie, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The Coral Preservation Association is trying to preserve coral by informing residents in Serikyaku on Izena Island about its importance. On June 14, the association worked with children to complete a large mural on the back of the...

Song Leftovers of the Warship inscribed on stone

Song <em>Leftovers of the Warship</em> inscribed on stone

June 22, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The monument featuring an Okinawa folk song Kanpo nu Kwe-nukusaa (Leftovers of the Warship) has been completed in Sobe in Yomitan. This well-known Okinawan folk song, written by Koubin Higa describes the feelings of people who survived the war.

The...