Chubu – The 28th 2020 Okinawa Marathon (co-hosted by Chubu Large Area Municipal Corp, the Ryukyu Shimpo Co. Ltd., Okinawa Television, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) Okinawa, and the Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park management joint venture TrusTec and Mizuno) was held February 16, starting and finishing at the Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park.
The event was sponsored by Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom, Daiichi Life Insurance, Orion Beer, Okinawa Bank, Japan Transocean Air Co. Ltd., and Okinawa Coco Cola Bottling. The men’s race was won by Hayato Sonoda (Krosaki Harima Corporation) with a time of 2:21:41.
The women’s race was won by Karen Kinjo (Chukyo Gakuin University) with a time of 2:50:39.
In other races at the event, the men’s 10km was won by Yuta Hokama with a time of 31:34, while Ruka Hasegawa took the top spot for the women with a time of 40:51.
The high school 10km was won by Ryuto Uehara (Hokuzan High School) at 32:26 for the men, and by Nanami Sekiguchi (Hokuzan High School) at 38:24 for the women.
The runners set off together at the sound of the starting gun at 9:00 a.m., running through the Chubu streets through a rain shower.
Local spectators and volunteers lined the route shouting their support, urging the runners on.
At the opening ceremony, Okinawa City mayor Sachio Kuwae, who also served as the chair of the race’s executive committee, encouraged runners in his greeting with, “I want you all to show the results of your daily training.”
There were 9,932 people who completed the official JAAF marathon course (in limited time from 9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.), and 2,389 people who completed the 10km course (similarly limited from 9:40 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.), for a total of 12,321 runners.
The event Ryukyu Buyo and Kumiodori was held on February 15 at Shurijo Castle Park in Naha City to celebrate the 300th anniversary of kumiodori (traditional Okinawan dance) and to offer prayers for the reconstruction of Shuri Castle.
The event was organized by a special executive committee, and took place on the front lawn of the Suimuikan building inside the park.
A total of 42 performers, which included designated Living National Treasures, holders of Intangible Cultural Properties (kumiodori) and other young performers, put on kumiodori numbers including Shu Shin Kane Iri for the crowd. About 450 spectators gathered at the event, all hoping for the reconstruction of Shuri Castle and further advancement of kumiodori.
February 9 saw the start of joint excavation work by youth from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (organized by the Kenken Remains Excavation Joint Action Committee) on land in Kenken, Motobu where the remains of fourteen people, including two Koreans, were buried during the Battle of Okinawa.
At a spot where three to four meters of earth had been dug up by machinery, the youth carefully excavated the human remains buried in the ground.
Their work is planned to last until February 11, and the Action Committee hopes to contribute to peace-building in East Asia through the excavation work.
The excavation work started with a commemoration on the morning of February 9, where Buddhist priests read sutras and choruses of hymns were sung. Seiji Nakasone, superintendent of education in Motobu, gave a speech at the commemoration and expressed hope for the excavation, saying, “nearly 75 years have passed since the end of the war, yet still the remains of many lost lives are buried, unknown, in the fields and hills of Okinawa.
I think the families of the deceased must wish fervently to have the remains of their loved ones be returned to them so that they can give them a proper burial.”
The excavation work is being carried out with reference to old photographs of the burial site, using the position of Sesoko Island in the background as a guide, and the excavation area is being broadened gradually.
The participants of different nationalities cooperated together as they carefully brushed away the soil between rocks.
Kim Myeong Ji, 28, of South Korea’s Jeju Island, said, “I feel that it is meaningful that we were able to engage in the excavation work as people of the same East Asia regardless of nationality.”
Chang Wenyueh, 22, a senior at Waseda University who is from Taiwan, said, “Working together, talking, and communicating is important for building peace.”
Sarasa Aihara, 33, of Ginowan, who has been engaged with people in East Asia through peace parades and the like, said, “I think it’s important for people living in our generation to rethink everything, including the things that [Japan] did.”
The spread of a pneumonia brought about by the corona virus has had an ever-increasing impact on the global economy, and it has cast a large shadow over the economy of Okinawa, which had previously been enjoying continued growth in their tourism industry.
Okinawa regularly expects an influx of Chinese visitors with a large appetite for spending around the Lunar New Year, however due to the virus around 1,000 reservations were cancelled, creating a shocking dilemma for restaurants and other tourism businesses.
For companies such as Okinawa Kankou Kaihatsu, which operates the local restaurant chain Chinuman, which has locations at tourist destinations in places like Naha and Onna, around 30% of the customer base comes from people visiting the island from abroad. Kazumasa Yona, the company’s managing director, commented frustratingly, “There is also a decrease in Korean visitors, sales are down from 5-10% for January.
We expected things to return to last year’s levels with the Lunar New Year, but the cancellation of these reservations has had a considerable effect.”
If the effects of the contagion continues, there are worries that it will lead to domestic travelers avoiding visits to Okinawa, which has a reputation as a tourist destination that attracts many visitors from abroad. Yona added, “There’s no end in sight, which is frightening.”
The sight of group travelers from large cruise ships visiting on charter buses has also disappeared, and the foot traffic on Kokusai-dori has become sparse.
One business owner who developed multiple restaurants on Kokusai-dori said in dismay, “There have been over 2,000 cancellations from Chinese visitors since the end of January.
People are avoiding tourist destinations, and there have even been some cancellations from domestic group tours.”
A representative from a hotel in Naha that has a lot of guests from abroad dropped their shoulders, saying, “There have been no visitors from not only China, but also Korea.
It’s tough” They are looking at offering discounts to help with their occupancy rate.
Kikou Sakiyama, who manages the Okinawa branch of the All Nippon Travel Agents Association (ANTA), indicates, “If the effects are prolonged, it will become a matter of life or death for some businesses.
It will be especially tough for companies who specialize in tourism from China.”
Meanwhile, the Hotel Palm Royal Naha in Makishi, Naha, is still seeing substantial lodging from domestic visitors, and had a room occupancy ratio in January that out-performed the previous year.
Hotel general manager Naohisa Takakura said, “Lowering prices will not bring back customers.
In order to avoid a mid-to-long-term price collapse, you have to make sure that the level of service is top notch to ensure repeat visitors.”
The hotel made a deal with a company that produces masks, and has been providing them to customers free of charge at check-in.
The decrease in tourism has even led to a reduction in sales at retails stores such as supermarkets, department stores, and souvenir shops.
According to calculations released by Okinawa prefecture, Chinese visitors spend on average around 51,481 yen on souvenirs, over double the average amount for foreign visitors overall.
According to one person who works in the retail industry, “Even a 10% drop in tourism from China will have a massive effect on sales.”
At Aeon Ryukyu Department store, they started seeing a drop in Chinese customers in the latter half of January, and they reported a 10% decrease in tax-free sales compared to the previous year for the Lunar New Year.
A representative from the Ryubo Department store said “We get the impression that there is a decrease in Chinese customers.”
However, they were unable to compare their year-over-year figures for the Lunar New Year, which was in February last year, and were unable to comment if there was any effect from the corona virus.
The San-A supermarket, a major chain in Okinawa, reported that sales of masks were strong, and that their January tax-free sales were up year-over-year.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter-attack aircraft (based in Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni) lost its fuel door (panel covering the fuel tank) during an exercise conducted on Kadena Air Base.
On February 13, the U.S. Naval Forces Japan effectively admitted the aircraft had lost the part.
They are unaware of where the debris may have landed.
On the same day, the U.S. Navy flew the same model aircraft out of Kadena Air Base.
Governor Denny Tamaki told reporters, “If [debris] indeed fell off a jet, that would be outrageous.”
The prefecture and the local municipalities plan to lodge a complaint with concerned Japanese and American authorities sometime after February14.
According to the U.S. Navy Public Affairs Office, a crew member of the F/A-18 noticed that the fuel door was missing while flying above the waters close to Kadena Air Base.
They explained that the aircraft was conducting “standard exercise” and the details remain obscured. The cause is still “under investigation.”
On February13, the aircraft at issue stayed at Kadena Air Base but did not appear to receive any maintenance or servicing.
Yet, at around 3:50 p.m. the same day, another F/A-18 that had arrived Kadena Air Base with the jet in question, took off.
The F/A-18 was high-handedly put back into operation without first providing any elucidation of causes or preventative measures.
During an interview with the Ryukyu Shimpo, the Okinawa Defense Bureau offered the U.S. position that “Safety is always the top priority and every aircraft undergoes thorough preflight and postflight servicing. This servicing will continue.”
The F/A-18 in question is based in MCAS Iwakuni and belongs to the nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan.
On the evening of February 11, a light phenomenon in which light appears in the sky horizontal to the sun, called a “parhelion (genjitsu)”, was observed in Naha City and Urasoe City.
The light appearing to both sides of the sun made it seem as though there were three suns, and with the light on the right side shining white, red, and yellow, a wonderous scene sprawled across the sky.
According to the Okinawa Meteorological Observatory, a parhelion is a phenomenon that occurs when sunlight hits ice particles in the clouds and refracts.
This was made possible on February 11 by cold air flowing into the upper stratum and thin clouds.
Given that the Meteorological Observatory did not make observaton of the phenomenon, a spokesperson mentioned it “cannot conclude that this was a parhelion”.
However, after several inquiries, a spokeperson said: “From the characteristics it is likely that this was a parhelion.
Similarly, a parhelion appears as a rainbow at the same height as the sun at 5:28 p.m. on February 11 in Irijima, Urasoe City (photograph courtesy of Yasuhide Matayoshi)
In view of the weather conditions it is not strange that this would occur”.
Translator’s note: The phenomenon called a parhelion is also commonly known as a “sundog”.
The town of Kin (Hajime Nakama, mayor) and the city of Honolulu (Kirk Caldwell, mayor), signed a friendship agreement on February 11 at Honolulu City Hall as part of a celebration of Okinawa’s first emigrants to Hawaii from Kin 120 years ago.
They will also work on a cultural exchange program for the children of both municipalities.
At the signing ceremony, Mayor Nakama remarked “While being respectful of one another, I want to increase prosperity through cultural and persona exchange.
Like our predecessors from Kin, who pioneered a new future, I want this moment today to open up an entirely new future.
” Mayor Caldwell commented, “I expect this agreement will serve as the opportunity to level up our cultural exchange.”
Kin is known as the birthplace of Okinawan emigration, from when Kyuzo Toyama, known as the father of emigration, left Kin for Hawaii on December 5, 1899.
At the reception for the signing ceremony, members from Yuhi Taiko came from Kin to put on a hearty performance, which elicited applause and whistles from the crown.
George Toyama, 38, head of the Kin Town people’s association, which is made up of emigrants to Hawaii and their descendants, said smiling, “This friendship agreement has a great significance to our organization and it makes me very happy.
This will further strengthen the bond with Kin, and we want to help develop the relationship between the two towns.
Just prior to the signing of the agreement, Mayor Nakama paid a visit to the tomb of Kyuzo Toyama at Mililani Memorial Park on February 8.
The Japan Ground Self Defense Force’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade conducted a joint exercise together with the U.S. military at Kin Blue Beach Training Area in Kin, Okinawa, on February 9, which was open to the news media. It is the first time for the JGSDF’s amphibious brigade, established in 2018 as a specialized unit to recapture any taken island territories, to hold its joint exercise in Okinawa. The event unveils an agenda: pave the way to future deployment of additional units to Okinawa, by continuing to engage in these drills. JGSDF-U.S. Marine Corps joint exercises are increasing not only in Okinawa, but in other parts of Japan as well, evidencing the progression of Japan-U.S. integration.
Sunday, Kin Blue Beach Training Area—more than ten boats appeared from a naval vessel parked offshore, delivering Japanese and American soldiers to the beach. The pack stayed low and advanced with guns at the ready, but they were soon spotted by the simulated enemy and a gunfight ensued. Blank rounds were fired during the drills, but the scene looked like an actual battlefield, filled with white smoke. American soldiers and JSDF members intensely communicated in English.
After overtaking the enemy, the water-splashing U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) landed, producing an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, on to the beach. The HIMARS battalion was first deployed to the U.S. Marine Corps base in Okinawa in 2016, and this was the first time a LCAC was used in a HIMARS landing training.
Following the drill, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit commander, Col. Robert B. Brodie stressed that, “Working together with the JSDF amphibious brigade is conducive to strengthening all types of missions.”
JSDF’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, which was designed after the U.S. Marine Corps, has continually engaged in joint exercises with the U.S., domestically and abroad. At present, the 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment is stationed in Nagasaki prefecture. Rumors has it that a plan to station a 3rd regiment in Okinawa is underway.
A Defense Ministry official commented, “[Deployment to] Okinawa would be difficult, given the current environment and opposition but conducting these joint exercises will continue to be indispensable.”
February 10, 2020 by Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition
Livestock farmers in Okinawa gathered amid the spread of Classic Swine Fever (CSF) to hold the 2nd CSF prevention conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office February 10.
To protect the rare, Okinawan-native Agu pig from contracting CSF, the committee decided to quarantine the pure-bred Agu on an isolated island.
25 male and 25 female pigs will be quarantined until mid-February, when other pigs will start to be vaccinated and the Agu can be moved back to Okinawa’s main island.
By isolating these pigs, they will protect them from both CSF and African Swine Fever (ASF), and aim to preserve the pork’s brand image.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki greeting the 2nd CSF prevention conference – February 10, at the Okinawa Prefectural Offices.
Vaccinations to prevent the spread of CSF will be carried out on Okinawa’s main island.
The vaccinations will begin in the northern and southern parts of the island, where currently there are no cases of CSF.
In the central region of the island, where cases of CSF have been confirmed, they will begin vaccinating once they have confirmed that the virus has been eliminated. The goal is to inoculate 212,498 pigs overall.
February 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Mariko Nakamura, Shohei Tsukazaki
Secilil Eldebechel, 51, chief of staff to the president of Palau, visited Okinawa to strengthen Okinawa-Palau ties, but he had another reason to visit—to discover his grandfather’s Okinawan roots. Indeed, Eldebechel had a grandfather named Nabesuke Yamashiro, who was born in Yambaru in Northern Okinawa.
Nabesuke Yamashiro was born in Yambaru, Okinawa sometime between 1897 and 1902, and emigrated to Palau where he worked as a farmer and fisher. During World War II, Yamashiro served the Japanese Imperial Army. He continued to live in Palau after the war and passed away in 1970, when Eldebechel was two years old. The Palauan official has limited memories of his grandfather: “I have faint memories of him. He carried me in his arms sometimes.”
Yamashiro had eight children and 40 grandchildren in Palau, but Eldebechel is the first family member to visit Okinawa. “I waited too long to visit, mainly because of the distance and concerns about the language barrier. I’d like to find my relatives in Okinawa on behalf of my family back home.”
Librarians at the Okinawa Prefectural Library had conducted research prior to the chief of staff’s arrival in Okinawa, and found the name Nabesuke Yamashiro recorded in a government publication of Okinawan history (Okinawa kenshi shiryō¬ hen, Volume 17, [pt. 1] Kyū Nanyō guntō kankei shiryō [kindai 5]). This man was born on Aug. 16, 1900, and had a registered permanent address in the village formerly known as Mihara, Kushi-son. According to records, he was later conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army in Palau in 1944. Based on this man’s age and name, he is likely Eldebechel’s grandfather.
On the morning of February 6, the Palau chief of staff visited the Okinawa Prefectural Library, where he was briefed on this new information. Eldebechel’s eyes welled with tears as he studied landscape photographs of Nago City taken after the war. He sounded hopeful as he said, “Each step brings me closer to unveiling my roots.” He traveled to Mihara with a prefectural staff and spoke to residents near Yamashiro’s birth home, but they were unable to locate any of his relatives. Eldebechel said, “I would like to continue searching.” He appeared to be reminiscing the grandfather of his memories.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
