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Governor Tamaki requests U.S. military suspend transfer of personnel from the U.S. to Okinawa amid coronavirus outburst on U.S. bases

Governor Tamaki requests U.S. military suspend transfer of personnel from the U.S. to Okinawa amid coronavirus outburst on U.S. bases

July 16, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Tokyo – Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki visited the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) on July 15, to compose an official request demanding the U.S. institute policies to thoroughly administer PCR tests to any U.S. military personnel entering the country via U.S. bases, and to suspend the transfer of military personnel from the U.S. to Okinawa. The statement also requests the quarantining of U.S....

 

Comet NEOWISE photographed shining bright in predawn sky over Aguni

Comet NEOWISE photographed shining bright in predawn sky over Aguni

July 16, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Tomoe Oshiro

On July 12, Aguni-jima resident Masayoshi Shikata, 50, succeeded in photographing Comet NEOWISE (C/2020/F3).

Comet NEOWISE was discovered on March 28 (Japan time) through NASA’s infrared observation satellite NEOWISE. The comet...

U.S. military reports 34 new COVID-19 cases in Okinawa, bringing total count to 99; cluster outbreak among Marines, one case on Kadena

U.S. military reports 34 new COVID-19 cases in Okinawa, bringing total count to 99; cluster outbreak among Marines, one case on Kadena

July 14, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa prefectural government announced it confirmed 32 new COVID-19 cases at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and one case at Camp Kinser, between July 12 and 13. Additionally, the Kadena Air Base Facebook page announced on the night of July 13 that one...

Editorial: All bases should be put on lockdown in light of 61 confirmed U.S. military coronavirus cases

July 12, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases on U.S. military bases in Okinawa rose to 61 from July 7 to 11. July 11 saw 45 cases, nearly three times the number (16) the previous day. The Okinawa Prefectural Government assesses that clusters are occurring at U.S. Marine...

Okinawa prefectural assembly unanimously passes resolution demanding report on coronavirus cases in U.S. military bases on the island, Okinawa’s governor’s office also demands stronger prevention measures

Okinawa prefectural assembly unanimously passes resolution demanding report on coronavirus cases in U.S. military bases on the island, Okinawa’s governor’s office also demands stronger prevention measures

July 11, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

With confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to climb in...

Crabs come out at night under the light of the moon to lay eggs on Miyagi Island

Crabs come out at night under the light of the moon to lay eggs on Miyagi Island

July 8, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On Miyagi Island in Uruma City in Okinawa, the egg-laying season for crabs is approaching.

On July 6 under a full moon, a scene can be seen of countless crabs crossing the street, headed in the direction of the moonlight, and arriving at the edge of the water...

The motivation behind Kanehide Group’s Fourth of July ‘freedom’ ads

The motivation behind Kanehide Group’s Fourth of July ‘freedom’ ads

July 8, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

“[We are] straight as an arrow, we started out as blacksmiths, afterall.” “Today is Idependence Day. Make the world better today than it was yesterday.”—These newspaper ads were taken out in the Ryukyu Shimpo and the Okinawa Times by the Kanehide Group (chaired...

U.S. military rents hotel in Chatan Town to isolate personnel as Coronavirus countermeasure

U.S. military rents hotel in Chatan Town to isolate personnel as Coronavirus countermeasure

July 10, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

It came to light on July 9 that the U.S. Marine Corps has rented a hotel in Chatan Town as a countermeasure to the spread of the novel Coronavirus. The hotel will be used as an isolation facility for personnel from overseas who are being reassigned. The Chatan Town...

Protest sit-in against Henoko new base construction celebrates its seventh Tanabata holiday

Protest sit-in against Henoko new base construction celebrates its seventh Tanabata holiday

July 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Henoko reporting team) On July 6, citizens gathered in front of the gate to the U.S. military’s Camp Schwab to protest the construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago, Okinawa as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The signboard showing...

Mega-float idea was not shared with Gov. Tamaki: “Conversation has gone back in time”

Mega-float idea was not shared with Gov. Tamaki: “Conversation has gone back in time”

July 6, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani of the Liberal Democratic Party shared his “mega-float” proposal with people close to Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki as an alternative plan to reclaiming land at the new base construction site in Henoko, Nago City, citing the...

Kadena city council passes protest resolution after fire in Kadena Air Base

Kadena city council passes protest resolution after fire in Kadena Air Base

July 3, 2020 by Ryukyu Shimpo

Kadena – The Kadena city council (Naoki Tokusato, council president) held an emergency session on July 2, where they unanimously passed an official statement and protest resolution against a fire that broke out in a hazardous materials facility in Kadena Air...