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Ryukyu Dynasty Parade held in Kokusai Street as part of the Shurijo Castle Festival

Ryukyu Dynasty Parade held in Kokusai Street as part of the Shurijo Castle Festival

October 31, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

In the afternoon of October 30, the third day of the Shurijo Castle Festival, a Royal Procession replicating a scene on a Ryukyu Dynasty picture scroll was held in Kokusai Street in Naha. The splendor and beauty of the parade fascinated local people and tourists alike.

About nine hundred people in colorful Ryukyuan traditional costume participated in the procession, parading to the beat of a gong and a tune played on a flute.

As he watched the...

 

World’s longest habu snake

World's longest habu snake

November 1, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 31, the Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment in the city of Nanjo put the world’s longest habu on display to the public. It is 2.42 meters long and weighs around 2.9 kilograms.
The previous record was 2.41 meters for a specimen...

Unexploded ordnance and human bones found at Kuniyoshi Ward in Itoman City

October 25, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

By October 24, a worker carrying out a magnetic survey in farmland in Kuniyoshi Ward in Itoman City as part of the nation’s broad-scale excavation project had found approximately 100 items of unexploded ordnance thought to be from the former Imperial Japanese...

Okigeiren kicks off its European tour in Paris, enchanting audiences

Okigeiren kicks off its European tour in Paris, enchanting audiences

October 30, 2011 Rika Ishikawa of Ryukyu Shimpo

On the afternoon of October 28, the Okinawa Prefectural Performing Arts Association, or Okigeiren (chaired by Choichi Terukina), commenced its “Ryukyuan Traditional Arts – Three European Countries” tour at the Japan Cultural Institute...

World premiere of The Cocktail Party was performed in Hawaii

World premiere of <em>The Cocktail Party</em> was performed in Hawaii

October 28, 2011 Kazuki Furugen of Ryukyu Shimpo

A play written by Tatsuhiro Oshiro entitled The Cocktail Party had its premiere on October 26 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center (Waipahu, Hawaii). Tatsuhiro Oshiro is the first author from Okinawa to be awarded the prestigious Japanese literary...

Karate demonstration on Karate Day

Karate demonstration on Karate Day

October 26, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 25, the Society for the Advancement of Traditional Okinawa Karate had a special demonstration for the first time on Karate Day. It was held in front of Palette Kumoji, a department store in Naha, to demonstrate karate to people from both inside and...

Ryukyu Festival held in Osaka

Ryukyu Festival held in Osaka

October 25, 2011 Kaori Tamashiro and Naoki Isa of Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 23, the Ryukyu Festival 2011, the biggest Okinawan music event of its kind, was held by FM OSAKA at the Oska Castle Bandshell in Osaka. A total of 17 groups or individuals participated in the festival, including established...

Okinawa Bullfighting Federation decides upon a logo

Okinawa Bullfighting Federation decides upon a logo

October 25, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Prefectural Bullfighting Federation (Chairman Masakazu Kochi) recently decided upon a logo. In a competition organized by the Federation and the Ryukyu Shimpo, a logo designed by 35 year-old company employee and resident of Nakagusuku Village Tomokazu...

Several non-native toads captured – a threat to the ecosystem

Several non-native toads captured - a threat to the ecosystem

October 24, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

Cane toads, which are designated as an invasive alien species due to their harmful effect on the ecosystem, have been identified and captured on a regular basis in Urasoe City. According to the Ministry of the Environment Naha Nature Conservation Office, 550 of...

Rift between Okinawa and Tokyo-Washington DC further expanded by Japan-U.S. defense ministers’ meeting

Rift between Okinawa and Tokyo-Washington DC further expanded by Japan-U.S. defense ministers' meeting

October 26, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

Nago Mayor says, “The evaluation report has no meaning”

With regard to the defense ministers’ meeting of Yasuo Ichikawa and Leon E. Panetta, in which the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to Henoko in Nago City and the...

Relocation of Futenma Air Station:U.S. Defense Secretary urges Japan to move as soon as possible on application procedures for the Henoko landfill

Relocation of Futenma Air Station:U.S. Defense Secretary urges Japan to move as soon as possible on application procedures for the Henoko landfill

October 26, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo
On October 25, one after another, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa met with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta in Tokyo. They explained to him that the Japanese government will submit to Okinawa...