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Okinawa Governor to reject the reclamation of the coastal area of Henoko

Okinawa Governor to reject the reclamation of the coastal area of Henoko

December 28, 2011 Compiled from reports in the Ryukyu Shimpo

In a New Year’s interview on December 27, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima indicated that he will reject the application to reclaim the coastal area of Henoko in Nago that has been decided upon as the site for relocation of the United States Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. He said, “There is no way that I will be forced to accept this application.”

In response to the central government’s view...

 

New Year’s ceremony held at Shuri Castle

New Year's ceremony held at Shuri Castle

January 3, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

From January 1 to 3, an event called Shinshun no Utage or New Year’s Banquet was held at Shuri Castle in Naha. The Chouhaiokishiki or Imperial Court New Year’s morning ceremony, which used to take place at Shuri Castle on New Year’s...

Less than 50 percent say that they can speak the Okinawan dialect
Ryukyu Shimpo conducts an attitude survey

Less than 50 percent say that they can speak the Okinawan dialect<br/>Ryukyu Shimpo conducts an attitude survey

January 1, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ryukyu Shimpo conducted an attitude survey in November 2011 in order to gain an insight into the character of Okinawan people and to detect trends in society. This is the third of its kind after those carried out in 2001 and 2006. The percentage who answered,...

Seahorses swim gracefully at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Seahorses swim gracefully at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

January 1, 2012 Ryukyu Shimpo

As it does every year, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu organized a special display of creatures. Visitors enjoyed watching sea horses and other creatures named after dragons as they swam gracefully in their tanks.

The...

Dragon-shaped pottery to bring luck

Dragon-shaped pottery to bring luck

December 27, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

As the year wound down, workers at Toushingama in Yomitan Village were busy making items of pottery in the shape of a dragon, next year’s Chinese zodiac animal.

“Just as the dragon rises up, I really do hope that next year will be a good year for...

Okinawan Products Association to sell in China

December 27, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawan Products Associate co. Ltd will test markets for Okinawan products in next March at two different places of Shanghai and Shenzhen in China. This is part of the Project for the Market-Enhancing Strategy of Okinawan Products into China and will be...

Five humpback whales spotted off Zamami Island

Five humpback whales spotted off Zamami Island

December 29, 2011 Yoshikazu Miyazato correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

In the morning of December 28, the first five humpback whales of this season were confirmed as being seen in the sea to the west side of Zamami Island. They are usually first seen in the middle of December, but this year sightings...

Seifa Utaki the sacred prayer site to close six days a year from 2012 for preserve the environment

Seifa Utaki the sacred prayer site to close six days a year from 2012 for preserve the environment

December 28, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 27, the Nanjo Municipal Office announced that from 2012 it will close the sacred prayer site Seifa Utaki for six days a year from May 1 to 3 and October 1 to 3 of the lunar calendar.

After being designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000,...

Wishing everyone good luck for the coming year
Dedication exercise at Shuri Castle

Wishing everyone good luck for the coming year<br/>Dedication exercise at Shuri Castle

December 26, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 25, a dedication exercise to present the Ryukyu Kingdom with wakamizu or sacred water called Nuubii no Hounou sai was revived at Shuri Castle. The water was drawn from Ookawa in the Hedo district of Kunigami and Hiijaa in Takushi...

Foreign Ministry document reveals that 1000 crimes were committed by U.S. military personnel in the twelve months before the reversion of Okinawa

Foreign Ministry document reveals that 1000 crimes were committed by U.S. military personnel in the twelve months before the reversion of Okinawa

December 23, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

A total of 5367 crimes were committed by U.S. military personnel in the five years from 1964 to 1968 under the U.S. Military Administration of Okinawa. On December 22, a Foreign Ministry document released stated that while 504 violent crimes such as murders,...

Removal of nuclear weapons from Okinawa delayed its reversion to Japan

December 23, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

According to diplomatic documents declassified on December 22, 2011, the date of Okinawa’s reversion to Japanese sovereignty was set to match the completion of the removal of nuclear weapons stored in U.S. military bases in Okinawa.
While the Japanese...