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Ministry of Environment survey reveals recent dugong feeding trails near Hateruma and Irabu Islands

Ministry of Environment survey reveals recent dugong feeding trails near Hateruma and Irabu Islands

April 1, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Tokyo) On March 31, the Ministry of the Environment compiled its results from FY 2019 surveys of the state of habitation of the dugong, which is a Natural Monument of Japan, and revealed that it found new marks thought to be dugong feeding trails near Hateruma Island and Irabu Island. 2019 was also the first year surveyed in which no feeding trails were seen off the coast of Kayo in Nago.

The Ministry of the Environment carried out surveys on Hateruma...

 

JetStar Japan to suspend all flights from Shimojishima Airport to Narita and all connecting flights from April 10 –May 6

JetStar Japan to suspend all flights from Shimojishima Airport to Narita and all connecting flights from April 10 –May 6

April 9, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

JetStar Japan announced April 9 that they are suspending all flights between Shimojishima Airport and Narita Airport, as well as all connecting flights from April 10 through May 6.

As a result, Shimojishima Airport Management, the firm that operates the Miyako...

Explanatory documents on soft seabed from MOD commission contained 20 mistakes

Explanatory documents on soft seabed from MOD commission contained 20 mistakes

April 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 1 it came to light that mistakes were found in 20 portions of the explanatory documents from the Ministry of Defense’s “technical investigative commission” panel of experts. This technical investigative commission was established to address...

Tree Nymph Chosen as Okinawa’s Prefectural Butterfly New Symbol Established for the First Time in 48 Years

Tree Nymph Chosen as Okinawa’s Prefectural Butterfly New Symbol Established for the First Time in 48 Years

April 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 1, the tree nymph was established as the Prefectural Butterfly of Okinawa, the prefecture’s newest symbol. Previously, there were six established Prefectural Symbols, including the Prefectural Emblem, the Prefectural Flower (deigo flower), and the Prefectural...

Okinawa Medical Association “strongly requests” people from outside prefecture to refrain from returning to archipelago for tomb sweeping festival

Okinawa Medical Association “strongly requests” people from outside prefecture to refrain from returning to archipelago for tomb sweeping festival

April 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, the Okinawa Medical Association (Tetsuyoshi Asato, committee chair) announced April 2 that, with the opening of the tomb sweeping festival (shimi) season taking place this weekend, they are asking people to refrain from returning...

Editorial: After discovery of carcinogenic fire-extinguishing foam discovered outside of U.S. base, use of harmful chemicals must be eliminated immediately

April 12, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Fire-extinguishing foam containing PFOS, a type of carcinogenic organic fluorine compound, was discovered to have escaped outside of MCAS Futenma and onto the streets of Ginowan, polluting the rivers and falling on the streets in residential neighborhoods. This...

Futenma base will close, but military flights and local complaints persist

April 13, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ginowan City, Okinawa—It was agreed 24 years ago that the U.S. Marine Corps base in Futenma would be closed and the site would be returned to Okinawa. In the meantime, the base burden on Ginowan residents has not lessened. The number of military aircraft flights,...

Ishigaki-based Seifuku Distillery to launch 77% alcohol awamori for use as a substitute for alcohol disinfectants for coronavirus

Ishigaki-based Seifuku Distillery to launch 77% alcohol awamori for use as a substitute for alcohol disinfectants for coronavirus

April 11, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Ishigaki) On April 10, Seifuku Distillery (based in Ishigaki, Okinawa; president: Kenryu Kanna) held a press conference at Ishigaki City Hall and announced that it will start manufacturing awamori called “Seifuku 77” having a 77% alcohol content.

The...

Fields of purple emerge in Ogimi Village

Fields of purple emerge in Ogimi Village

April 9, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

In Kijoka, Ogimi Village, the Iris ochroleuca is in full bloom and the flower fields are awash in purple. On the morning of April 8, families and shutterbugs arrived at the flower fields, enjoying the drive and the early summer weather. Yoshiko Okonogi, 69, who visited...

Memorial service for victims of compulsory group suicide held at Chibichiri-gama

Memorial service for victims of compulsory group suicide held at Chibichiri-gama

April 5, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

During the Battle of Okinawa, immediately following the U.S. military landing on Okinawa Island, on April 2, 1945, 83 residents of the island were gathered for “collective self-determination” (compulsory group suicide) at the natural cave Chibichiri-gama...

“It will endanger the island’s existence.” Kudaka Island, Island of the Gods, Asks Visitors to Stay Away Minami-Daito Does the Same Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus

“It will endanger the island’s existence.” Kudaka Island, Island of the Gods, Asks Visitors to Stay Away  Minami-Daito Does the Same Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus

April 8, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Nanjo – On April 7, due to the spread of novel coronavirus, representatives of Kudaka Island, Nanjo asked tourists to refrain from visiting the island. Nagayasu Hokama, head of Kudaka Ward, says that while the request is not intended to regulate entry...