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Mystical, endangered orchid blooms in Nago City

Mystical, endangered orchid blooms in Nago City

April 27, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Mitsuo Kochi

The Iriomote orchid, or Iriomote-ran, a treasured orchid species said to be extinct in the wild, successfully bloomed under the care of an orchid hobbyist in Nago City. The grower has carefully tended to the plant since purchasing it from a retailer 40 years ago.

Iriomote orchids belong to the orchid family. In the wild, they grow on large trees and its stems tend to shoot upward. Because the bulbs emerge at the base of...

 

Organic fluorine compound contamination detected at six times index value in Uchidomari River

Organic fluorine compound contamination detected at six times index value in Uchidomari River

April 24, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Takaya Kinra

On April 10, in relation to the incident of organic fluorine compounds (PFAS) such as PFOS, which are suspected to be carcinogenic, being discharged from Futenma Air Station, the Ryukyu Shimpo requested that Associate Professor Koji Harada...

Nanbu Medical Center workers fighting COVID-19 post ‘thank you’ sign in windows

Nanbu Medical Center workers fighting COVID-19 post ‘thank you’ sign in windows

April 23, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 22, hospital workers at Okinawa Prefectural Nanbu Medical Center & Children’s Medical Center posted a sign in the fourth-floor windows of the east wing that read, “Thank you for your support.” The facility, which treats COVID-19 patients,...

Run over while looking for food? Large numbers of living fossils dead

Run over while looking for food? Large numbers of living fossils dead

April 23, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Northern Okinawa – In Nago, there are many cases of Anderson’s crocodile newts becoming roadkill. The Anderson’s crocodile newt (family Salimandriae) is nicknamed “the living fossil,” and is a natural monument designated by Okinawa prefecture. The Nago...

Orion to cease production of 9% alcohol by volume “Watta Strong” chuhai due to health concerns

Orion to cease production of 9% alcohol by volume “Watta Strong” chuhai due to health concerns

April 23, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Eriko Tamaki

Orion Breweries, Ltd., (Keiju Hayase, Representative Director andPresident), announced April 22 that they would cease production of the high-alcohol version of their chuhai beverage, “Watta Strong.”

The high alcohol content in the...

Iejima experiences and early “golden autumn” and begins full-fledged wheat harvesting

Iejima experiences and early “golden autumn” and begins full-fledged wheat harvesting

April 21, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Special Correspondent Yukito Kinjo

Iejima – In Ie village, where wheat production in Okinawa thrives, the color of gold has spread throughout the wheat fields, and farmers begun harvesting their crop, starting at the end of March onwards. On sunny days,...

Sea lettuce season is here

Sea lettuce season is here

April 20, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

At a sea lettuce farm in Yaga, Nago City, the asa sea lettuce—a popular spring food, is in peak harvest. The blooming asa has covered the coast in a beautiful green carpet.

On the morning of April 19, sea lettuce farmers went out to the beach during low...

Birth of Eagerly-Awaited Yonaguni Horse Healthy Foal in Shizuoka A Joyful Link Across the Sea

Birth of Eagerly-Awaited Yonaguni Horse Healthy Foal in Shizuoka A Joyful Link Across the Sea

April 17, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yuki Muramatsu

Yonaguni – At dawn on March 20, an eagerly-awaited male foal was born to Auri and Meri, Yonaguni horses at Rakujyu-en, a public park in Mishima, Shizuoka. On March 26, Toshio Sakimoto, chair of the Yonaguni Tourism Association received...

Chemical leak from U.S. base “exacerbates distrust,” prefecture issues letter

Chemical leak from U.S. base “exacerbates distrust,” prefecture issues letter

April 16, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 16, Satoru Nakasone, chairman of the Special Committee on Affairs of U.S. Military Bases, presented a letter of protest at the prefectural assembly. The letter was written in response to the accident in which a firefighting foam containing the harmful...

All-Okinawa Coalition temporarily suspends sit-in protests to prevent spread of coronavirus

All-Okinawa Coalition temporarily suspends sit-in protests to prevent spread of coronavirus

April 15, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

On April 14 the “All-Okinawa Coalition” (All-Okinawa Kaigi), which is made up of political parties and citizens’ groups that oppose relocation of Futenma Air Station to Henoko, Nago City, announced that it is temporarily suspending...

Man arrested for fraud after buying cigarettes using imitation “money for the afterlife”

Man arrested for fraud after buying cigarettes using imitation “money for the afterlife”

April 15, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ururma Police arrested a 22-year-old unemployed man with no fixed address for fraud and traffic violations (driving without a license) after the man used “Uchikabi,” imitation paper money placed at tombs and shrines for ancestors to use in the afterlife, resembling...