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Okinawa Festival held in Tokyo: Goya and Taco Rice! The “Taste of Okinawa” at home

Okinawa Festival held in Tokyo: Goya and Taco Rice! The “Taste of Okinawa” at home

February 3, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Tokyo – On February 2, the Haisai! Okinawa Festival began at JA Tokyo AgriPark in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The event is run by JA Okinawa and showcases Okinawan tourism and products. The festival will share Okinawan tourism, goods, and produce like bitter melon (goya) with the Greater Tokyo Area through February 6.

 

Many items were sent from Okinawa for the festival, from kogiku flowers and seven vegetables, including...

 

Takeoffs/landings at Futenma Air Station in 2020 reaches record high of 17,500 for the year

Takeoffs/landings at Futenma Air Station in 2020 reaches record high of 17,500 for the year

February 3, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

According to a visual inspection conducted by the Okinawa Defense Bureau starting in April 2017, the number of takeoffs/landings performed by aircraft at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma for the year of 2020 was 17,500, the highest number...

Citizens protest court ruling for Henoko coral reef transplantation at PM residence

Citizens protest court ruling for Henoko coral reef transplantation at PM residence

February 4, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Tokyo—On the evening of February 3, citizens opposed to the relocation of U.S. Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago City, protested in front of the Japanese Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo. The protest was precipitated by the...

After U.S. military aircraft flies at low altitude “clearly outside of regulation” Okinawa Governor’s chief of staff lodges protest over phone

After U.S. military aircraft flies at low altitude “clearly outside of regulation” Okinawa Governor’s chief of staff lodges protest over phone

February 4, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

After U.S. military aircraft were spotted flying at low altitude near the Kerama islands, Okinawa gubernatorial chief of staff Masaru Kinjo lodged a protest to 353d Special Operations Group Commander Colonel Michael A. Thomas on February 3. According...

VIDEO: Incredible humpback whale jump in Miyagi, Chatan

VIDEO: Incredible humpback whale jump in Miyagi, Chatan

February 2, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Takeshi Asato, 45, was at home in Miyagi, Chatan, on January 31 when he photographed a humpback whale jumping majestically out in the ocean.

 

That day, Asato noticed a tourist boat docked close to shore and watched on with curiosity....

Naha sakura declared to be in full bloom, with their pink flowers decorating the streets

Naha sakura declared to be in full bloom, with their pink flowers decorating the streets

February 2, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The Okinawa Regional Headquarters of the Japanese Meteorological Association (JMA) announced February 1 that the cherry (hikanzakura) blossom trees in Naha were in full bloom. The announcement comes three days earlier than the yearly average,...

Okinawa opens counseling service for problems caused by the U.S. military in Chatan Town Hall, strengthening support services after a woman was killed

Okinawa opens counseling service for problems caused by the U.S. military in Chatan Town Hall, strengthening support services after a woman was killed

January 29, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

by Wakana Arakaki

 

Chatan – After a woman was killed by a U.S. soldier in the Kuwae neighborhood of Chatan, Okinawa in April of 2019, Okinawa Prefecture opened a counseling service called “Solution Center Ayumu) January 5 in Chatan Town...

Joint USMC-GSDF training conducted on Blue Beach despite concerns about coronavirus spread

Joint USMC-GSDF training conducted on Blue Beach despite concerns about coronavirus spread

January 29, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 28, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), stationed in Okinawa, and the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) started joint training at the Kin Blue Beach Training Area against the wishes of the Okinawa prefectural government, which requested restraint for the sake...

Main streets in Miyako-jima become shuttered streets “Blanketed with coronavirus.” “Explosion of infections.”

Main streets in Miyako-jima become shuttered streets “Blanketed with coronavirus.” “Explosion of infections.”

January 29, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Miyako-jima – On January 28, the city of Miyako-jima confirmed 35 new cases of Covid-19 in one day, a record high. Recently, every day has set a new record for the highest number of new cases in a day. Residents’ worry is obvious. “At this...

All 21 students of this AMICUS fifth-grade class have been published

All 21 students of this AMICUS fifth-grade class have been published

January 16, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Uruma City—Throughout the 2020 school year, Okinawa AMICUS International Elementary School teacher Kaoru Joanna Uezu worked with her fifth-grade class to send submissions to the “Voice” and “Ryu PON!” sections of the Ryukyu Shimpo. The...

Editorial: Camp Schwab joint use agreement is a violation of civilian control

January 25, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

A secret 2015 agreement reached between the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and the U.S. Marine Corps has come to light. The deal agrees to station the JGSDF’s remote island defense unit, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB),...