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Looking forward to how the land will look after the return of the U.S. bases

Looking forward to how the land will look after the return of the U.S. bases

May 21, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

“Painting contest 2010, Dreaming of the land after the return of the U.S. bases,” an exhibition of the winning entries, commenced at the Prefectural Gallery of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum on May 20.

Governor of Okinawa Hirokazu Nakaima delivered a speech to elementary and junior high school pupils at the opening ceremony, saying, “I think that what you drew in your paintings will be realized by the time you all grow up.” Nakaima...

 

Three municipalities around Kadena Air Base united in their strong opposition to the integration plan with Futenma

Three municipalities around Kadena Air Base united in their strong opposition to the integration plan with Futenma

May 20, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo
At a press conference held at the Chatan Town Hall on May 19, the mayors of Okinawa City, Chatan and Kadena Town and the chairpeople of their three assemblies, namely the group of six that makes up the Trilateral Liaison Council concerning U.S. Kadena Airbase, declared...

Pula-kun, popular Yuru-Chara of Ginten Street Shopping Mall

Pula-kun, popular Yuru-Chara of Ginten Street Shopping Mall

May 27, 2011 by Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo

Pula-kun, a character representing tempura (seafood and vegetables dipped in batter and deep-fried), a specialty dish in the Ginten Street Shopping Mall in Okinawa City, has been gaining popularity.
On Twitter, more than 1300 people now...

Glittering soushiju trees in full bloom in Naha

Glittering soushiju trees in full bloom in Naha

May 19, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

The soushiju trees or Acacia confusa reached full bloom in Manko Park in Naha, on May 18, giving passersby an enjoyable glimpse of the sun during a short break in the long rainy season. Soushiju is an evergreen leguminous tree that blossoms during April and May with...

Kadena Town Assembly resolution seeks withdrawal of U.S. senators’ proposal regarding the relocation of Futenma

Kadena Town Assembly resolution seeks withdrawal of U.S. senators' proposal regarding the relocation of Futenma

May 18, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Kadena Town Assembly, chaired by Hiromi Tasaki, held an extraordinary session on May 17 to discuss the proposal by U.S. senator Carl Levin of the Senate Armed Services Committee and others that their government consider the option of integrating the facilities...

One thousand three hundred school bags for children in stricken areas

One thousand three hundred school bags for children in stricken areas

May 18, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

Students of Kouyou Elementary School in Itoman City have been calling for people to donate school bags to give to children living in areas stricken by the Great East Japan Earthquake and in war-torn Afghanistan. They have collected a total of 1300 bags.
Impressed...

OKINESIA promotes a new brand of scent called Kabuchii

OKINESIA promotes a new brand of scent called Kabuchii

May 14, 2011 by Yoko Oshiro, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

Yukitaka Kinjo, president of OKINESIA Inc. (Naha City), a company specializing in the production and distribution of foods and houseware products utilizing materials unique to Okinawa, visited France to promote a new product called...

Fishing boat Tonan Maru flying no national flag, seized in Taiwan

Fishing boat Tonan Maru flying no national flag, seized in Taiwan

May 15, 2011 Sadaharu Shimabukuro of the Ryukyu Shimpo

Ships that navigate the high seas are officially required to display a national flag, but under the U.S. military administration, until 1967, ships from Okinawa were not permitted to hoist either a Japanese or American flag. This led to...

Ryukyu Dynasty musical revived on stage

Ryukyu Dynasty musical revived on stage

May 16, 2011

The kumiodori traditional Okinawan musical of the Ryukyu Dynasty, “The World of Ukwanshin Woudui Chushin Migawari no Maki,” was performed at the National Theatre Okinawa on May 15. The performance was part of a special research project to commemorate the day...

Protest rally marks the 30th anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan

Protest rally marks the 30th anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan

May 18, 2011 Ryukyu Shimpo

A peace march was staged on May 15, 2011, the date marking the 30th anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japanese sovereignty. After the march, the participants held a protest rally demanding the “Protection of Peace and Daily Life in Okinawa” (hosted by the 5-15...

Okinawa rail threatened by increase in mongoose numbers

Okinawa rail threatened by increase in mongoose numbers

May 16, 2011 by Katsuyoshi Oshiro, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo

The Yambaru Wildlife Center in Kunigami Village held the local briefing session on the wildlife in the Yambaru that had been announced at the 58th National Convention of Ecological Society of Japan held in Sapporo, Hokkaido...