Top News

Editorial: We must not concede to military use of Shimojishima Airport

August 11, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

A meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party National Defense Parliamentary Group saw many participants put forth the idea that the Self-Defense Forces should be allowed to use Shimojishima Airport in Miyakojima City for the purpose of strengthening defense of the Nansei Islands. This argument contravenes a memorandum of understanding executed between the national government and the Okinawa Prefectural Government prohibiting military use of Shimojishima Airport....

 

Fountain pen found in trenches returned to owner after 75 years: “It was a gift from my father when I passed the high school entrance exam”

Fountain pen found in trenches returned to owner after 75 years: “It was a gift from my father when I passed the high school entrance exam”

August 4, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Ryota Nakamura

Recently, the owner of a fountain pen engraved with the name “Eiko Kakazu,” which was discovered in the 24th Division Headquarters trenches in Yoza, Itoman by a member of the group “Okinawa Ari no Kai,” which works on collecting...

MOD designates U.S. military bases, such as Camp Schwab, for first time as subject to Drone Act

MOD designates U.S. military bases, such as Camp Schwab, for first time as subject to Drone Act

August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

On August 7 the Ministry of Defense (MOD) designated 15 U.S. military bases, such as Camp Schwab and Kadena Air Base, as sites subject to the Drone Act, under which the flight of drones is prohibited. This is the first time U.S. military bases have...

Medical association asks Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to exercise “patience” this summer

Medical association asks Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to exercise “patience” this summer

August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Medical Association held a press conference on the morning of August 7 and requested Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to refrain from returning home during the Japanese Bon holiday season this year, which begins on August 13. President Tetsuyoshi...

Two new coronavirus cases confirmed on Iriomote Island, including one town employee, and insufficient healthcare on the island has its residents scared

Two new coronavirus cases confirmed on Iriomote Island, including one town employee, and insufficient healthcare on the island has its residents scared

August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Taketomi – The Okinawa Prefectural Office in Yaeyama and the Yaeyama Health Department have disclosed two new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Iriomote Island in Yaeyama, a boy in his teens and a man in his fifties. The two new cases were not included in the report...

Fifteen Shisa statues at Ginowan City Hall wear masks in spite of the blazing sun

Fifteen Shisa statues at Ginowan City Hall wear masks in spite of the blazing sun

August 6, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ginowan – At the entrance of Ginowan City Hall on Route 330, fifteen shisa statues, which guard against evil, have donned masks to promote prevention of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The shisa statues wear their masks and watch over the people of the city....

PCR testing in Naha meant to be limited to Matsuyama ends one hour early after an unexpected number of people arrived, causing long lines and traffic congestion

PCR testing in Naha meant to be limited to Matsuyama ends one hour early after an unexpected number of people arrived, causing long lines and traffic congestion

August 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the first day of the prefectural emergency declared by Okinawa August 1, 58 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed as the spread of the disease shows no signs of slowing down. In Naha, where PCR testing is being conducted, large numbers of people concerned they...

Hawaii Okinawa Association sells 8,400 Okinawan doughnuts in 3 days

Hawaii Okinawa Association sells 8,400 Okinawan doughnuts in 3 days

August 3, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Hanae Gushiken Higa

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA) set up a drive-thru for customers to pick up their pre-ordered sata-andagi, a traditional Okinawan treat, at the Hawaii Okinawa Center on July 19. The deep-fried Okinawan sweets are popular...

Summer bullfighting festival cancelled for first time ever due to COVID-19

July 27, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Uruma – The Okinawa Bullfighting Association (Masakazu Koji, President) held a meeting on July 26, where they decided to cancel the “11th All-Okinawa Summer Bullfighting Festival” set to take place at the Ishikawa Dome in Uruma in August. This will be the first...

Hateruma-jima sugarcane crops affected by biggest draught in 40 years

Hateruma-jima sugarcane crops affected by biggest draught in 40 years

July 30, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Hateruma-jima, an island of Taketomi, has not received any significant amount of rain since June 9. The draught is increasingly affecting sugarcane crops on the island; in addition to leaf rolling—the plant’s mechanism to keep moisture from escaping, some of...

World Uchinanchu Festival plan for October 2021 under reconsideration due to coronavirus

World Uchinanchu Festival plan for October 2021 under reconsideration due to coronavirus

July 29, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

A panel of experts called the Universal Shinryo Council on Overseas Networks has been established to listen to the public opinion of Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki’s ongoing management of the Okinawa prefectural administration. The first meeting of this Council...