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First charter flight from Seoul arrives on Miyako-jima

First charter flight from Seoul arrives on Miyako-jima

February 9, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 8, an Asiana Airlines charter flight carrying 179 tourists arrived from Korea at Miyako Airport in Miyako-jima. This is the first time that Asiana Airlines has offered the flight between Seoul and Miyako-jima. People from the Miyako-jima Tourism Association held a welcome ceremony for the tourists at the airport. The Korean Lotte Tour Development Co. promoted this two-night and three-day tour, which has two options, either playing three rounds...

 

Hoan-den in Motobu may become nationally-designated Important Intangible Cultural Property

<em>Hoan-den</em> in Motobu may become nationally-designated Important Intangible Cultural Property

February 6, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 25, Masami Shibata of the Osaka-based War Remains Research Association that is engaged in heritage work for war-related sites, researched the Hoan-den in Jahana, in the Motobu district, and then on January 29 visited a location in Tancha that...

Fallen cherry trees reborn as new products

Fallen cherry trees reborn as new products

February 2, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In cooperation with the Yuimun Craft Shop, the Motobu Municipal Office has created chopsticks, pens, and straps from the wood from Taiwan cherry trees near Mt. Yaedake that were blown over in last year’s typhoons. They will use of the proceeds to buy and plant...

Traditional Kumi-odori preservation organization incorporated

Traditional <em>Kumi-odori</em> preservation organization incorporated

February 8, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 29, the Dento Kumi-odori Hozonkai, a voluntary organization to which the professionals of kumi-odori or traditional Okinawan musical belong, was designated as a general incorporated association by the government. Kumi-odori is recognized...

Okinawa Actors’ Association to be incorporated

Okinawa Actors’ Association to be incorporated

February 4, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

By mid-February, the voluntary group the Okinawa Actors’ Association, which is made up of the actors of Uchina shibai or Okinawan plays, will change into a general incorporated association, and start working to reinvigorate Okinawan popular drama. Becoming...

Okinawan traditional horse racing to be revived

Okinawan traditional horse racing to be revived

February 4, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Kodomo no Kuni, Zoo & Museum, is working to resurrect Okinawan traditional horse racing called uma-harase, which was lost almost 70 years ago because of the war. Since last October, zookeepers are preparing the unique racing style using...

Student researches history of black soldiers’ community in Koza

Student researches history of black soldiers’ community in Koza

February 7, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Eriko Ikehara, a 49 year-old graduate school student at University of California, Berkeley, has researched the history of the black soldiers’ community that existed from the 1950s until about 1976 in the Teruya district of what was formerly Koza City (currently...

Satiparo ritual held on Miyako-jima

Satiparo ritual held on Miyako-jima

February 5, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 4, a traditional ritual known as satiparo was held at Uenonobaru in Miyako-jima. With a child wearing a carved wooden mask and performing as a visiting deity called pantu out in front, 14 women wrapped in vines walked around the community and drove...

Okinawa Governor Nakaima renounces Osprey operation from Futenma Air Station

February 8, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In his regular press conference held in the afternoon of February 8, Okinawan Governor Hirokazu Nakaima referred to the incident in which a water bottle dropped from an MV-22 Osprey aircraft after it took off from U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station. Nakaima...

Fishing town celebrates Lunar New Year

Fishing town celebrates Lunar New Year

February 11, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

In Itoman, many people celebrated on February 10, which is New Year’s Day in the Lunar Calendar. At the fishing port in Itoman, where culture surrounding the lunar calendar still remains, fishermen flew flags and prayed for a big catch. This year, flags from...

Miyako-jima Municipal Office builds prototype EV car

Miyako-jima Municipal Office builds prototype EV car

February 2, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 1, at the Ecopit garage in Hirara on Miyako-jima, the local municipal office displayed a prototype small electric vehicle (EV) that they have produced in conjunction with local companies. The municipal office is conducting proving trials in order to...