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DNA testing conducted on 28 sets of remains of war dead

DNA testing conducted on 28 sets of remains of war dead

May 31, 2012 Yukiyo Zaha of the Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 30, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that they had conducted DNA testing on 28 sets of remains of war dead from Okinawa Prefecture (one identified, 27 unidentified). The Ministry has been performing DNA testing on remains of war dead since 2003. In the nine years from 2003 to 2011, a total of 1550 sets of remains (836 identified, 714 unidentified) have been appraised. Bereaved families and a...

 

Memorial for a Kamikaze pilot unveiled at Ogimi

Memorial for a Kamikaze pilot unveiled at Ogimi

May 27, 2012 Kyoko Ishii of Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 26, at the Rural Environment Improvement Center of Kijoka, Ogimi, the unveiling ceremony was held of a tanka inscription dedicated to Major Hiroshi Terauchi, a Kamikaze pilot who died during the battle of Okinawa. Tokyo resident 86 year-old...

Aquaculture production of estuary cod worth 120 million yen

Aquaculture production of estuary cod worth 120 million yen

June 3, 2012 Maki Nagamine of Ryuyku Shimpo

Cultivation of estuary cod (mibai in the Okinawan dialect), a fish well known for its high-grade white flesh, has been steadily increasing. The production volume for fiscal 2010 exceeded 80 tons, the highest level to date, and the return...

Shoji and Akira Yoshimi grow Okinawa pines in Kagoshima for the last 40 years

Shoji and Akira Yoshimi grow Okinawa pines in Kagoshima for the last 40 years

May 29, 2012 Ikue Nakaima of the Ryukyu Shimpo

In Kagoshima City, there are four Okinawa pines (Pinus luchuensis) growing beside a road with a view of Sakurajima. Kagoshima resident Shoji Yoshimi, who has looked after these pine trees for 40 years, decided to hand on the baton to his son Akira...

Thirteen year-old girl selected to perform in Peaceful Love Rock Festival

Thirteen year-old girl selected to perform in Peaceful Love Rock Festival

June 3, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the afternoon of June 2, at Music Town Oto Ichiba in Okinawa City, the final audition was held for bands performing at the 30th Peaceful Love Rock Festival and a 13 year-old girl from Okinawa City, Sakura Ishado was selected. She will be the youngest performer...

Book on the history of Maejima Island published

Book on the history of Maejima Island published

June 3, Hideaki Yoneda, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

Fumio Nakamura, who currently lives on Maejima Island, which comes under the administrative authority of Tokashiki Island and is located about 25 kilometers west of Naha, published a book entitled Hand on to the Next Generation...

U.S. government reports that human error caused the MV-22 Osprey crash in Morocco

June 3, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

The U.S. Government has sent the Ministry of Defense an unofficial report stating that human error caused the MV-22 Osprey vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft crash in Morocco in April, and that no mechanical problems have been found. This was revealed...

Traditional fishing method revived

Traditional fishing method revived

May 26, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On Kohama Island in Taketomi, 77 year-old Kenji Miyazato is working to revive a traditional fishing method called kasuku.
Miyazato said, “It will be a natural aquarium. I think that it could help children learn about the ocean.”

Kasuku...

Former marine displays photographs taken 50 years ago

Former marine displays photographs taken 50 years ago

May 25, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

A photo exhibition entitled “Mayaga, Tayaga, Nuyaga (Where is it, Who is it, What is it) @ Kitanakagusuku” was held in a local community center through until May 15. Former marine Dick Bruce, now 73 year-old and living in Washington DC, displayed 200...

Sutsuupunaka celebration for a full harvest held in Tarama

<em>Sutsuupunaka</em> celebration for a full harvest held in Tarama

June 1, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

From May 31 to June 2, the harvest festival Sutsuupunaka was held at four sites in Tarama, with all the villagers hoping for a year with a good harvest and prosperity.

Based on their respective roles, groups called za are formed for each of four ceremony...

Twenty people return to Shimoji Island 50 years after it was deserted

Twenty people return to Shimoji Island 50 years after it was deserted

May 26, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 20, people born on Shimoji Island, which is administered as part of Taketomi and has been deserted since 1962, chartered a dive boat to visit the island with their families on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their departure. In spite of bad weather,...