Top News

Red Color of Shuri Castle’s Seiden was Derived from Bacteria, Investigation will Continue

Red Color of Shuri Castle’s Seiden was Derived from Bacteria, Investigation will Continue

February 25, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Chie Tome

 

The fifth meeting of the painting and engraving working group within the national technical exploratory committee for reconstruction of Shuri Castle was held on February 24 in Naha. The working group reported that they have found that Kushi bengala, the red iron oxide pigment responsible for the Seiden’s characteristic red color, is derived from iron-oxidizing bacteria found near the water in Kushi (Nago). The team is investigating...

 

Nakagusuku to subsidize weddings starting 2022 inclusive of LGBTQ and common-law unions

Nakagusuku to subsidize weddings starting 2022 inclusive of LGBTQ and common-law unions

February 20, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Takaya Kinra

 

The village of Nakagusuku, Okinawa Prefecture, plans to reimburse local wedding and reception costs up to 100,000 yen per couple beginning in fiscal 2022.

 

The budget will be submitted to the village council’s...

Okinawa Vice Governor objects to USMC training being carried out at Naha Military Port

Okinawa Vice Governor objects to USMC training being carried out at Naha Military Port

February 15, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Regarding the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa carrying out training involving aircraft taking off from and landing at the Naha Port Facility (Naha Military Port), the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) invited Director Isao Ono of the Okinawa Defense...

Pumice stone removal costs expected to exceed 1.6 billion yen, not including damage to fishing and tourism industries

Pumice stone removal costs expected to exceed 1.6 billion yen, not including damage to fishing and tourism industries

February 18, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Chie Tome

 

Okinawa Prefecture announced February 17 that the cost of the damage caused by the large incursion of floating pumice stone caused by an undersea earthquake near the Ogasawara islands, based on the cost to collect and transport...

Kudaka Island asks residents to stay home and visitors to stay away due to spread of COVID-19

Kudaka Island asks residents to stay home and visitors to stay away due to spread of COVID-19

February 18, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Sanemichi Kinjo

 

Kudaka Island, Nanjo – COVID-19 cases are increasing among the 220-person population of Kudaka Island in Chinen, Nanjo. According to a town representative, there were six new positive cases on the island on February 16,...

Video: The glistening emerald green asa is in peak harvest at Kitanakagusuku

February 17, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Naoya Oshiro

The algae farm just off the shores of Misaki, Kitanakagusuku, has welcomed peak asa (sea lettuce) season. On February 16, farmers flocked out to sea to harvest the asa they carefully cultivated.

 

The...

Editorial: The petition to protect war-dead remains should be quickly passed into law

February 12, 2022 Ryukyu Shimp

 

Takamatsu Gushiken, who represents the war-dead remains recovery volunteer organization “Gamafuya,” has submitted a petition to the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly calling for the establishment of regulations to preserve the remains of those who...

Okinawa Fair at Taiwan’s Heping Island brings awamori and brown sugar to locals

Okinawa Fair at Taiwan’s Heping Island brings awamori and brown sugar to locals

January 29, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Wu Li Jun

 

The Okinawa Industry Promotion Public Corporation’s Taipei office and the Heping Island Park in Keelung City, Taiwan, jointly organized the Gòng Dǎo Ji Okinawa Fair to promote cultural and economic exchange between Okinawa...

206 local government assemblies have passed written opinion demanding land from Okinawa’s southern region not be excavated for use

206 local government assemblies have passed written opinion demanding land from Okinawa’s southern region not be excavated for use

February 10, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Masatoshi Inafuku

 

As of February 9, 206 city and town assemblies across Japan, around 10% of all such assemblies nation-wide, have adopted an official written opinion stating that ground from the southern part of Okinawa’s main island,...

(Video Included) Ueda Ugan Performed at Ukinju Hainju to Pray for Health and Abundant Harvest

(Video Included) Ueda Ugan Performed at Ukinju Hainju to Pray for Health and Abundant Harvest

February 11, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Sanemichi Kinjo

 

On February 10, the Ueda Ugan (rice planting festival) was held at Ukinju Hainju in Hyakuna Tamagusuku in Nanjo, which is said to be the birthplace of rice cultivation in the Ryukyu Islands. The Ueda Ugan is...

Wagtail visits a bird watcher at his car in Kin while visiting Okinawa for the winter

Wagtail visits a bird watcher at his car in Kin while visiting Okinawa for the winter

February 8, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Hideki Matsudo

 

Kin – Gray wagtails are migrating to the fields of Kin for the winter. On January 24, wild bird enthusiast Chuya Yambaru captured an image on one that had stopped to rest on the side mirror of his car. Yambaru said, “I...