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Sixty-four rare turtles, including the endangered Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, stolen from Okinawa Zoo & Museum

Sixty-four rare turtles, including the endangered Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, stolen from Okinawa Zoo & Museum

November 6, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa – It was discovered November 5 that the Okinawa Zoo & Museum (Okihiro Kamizato, zoo director) was unable to locate 15 of nationally designated natural monument and endangered Ryukyu black-breasted turtle as well as 49 Chinese box turtles that were being raised at the zoo.

The zoo filed a police report with the Okinawa government office November 6.

The Ryukyu Shimpo similarly learned that the zoo was unsure of the whereabouts of...

 

Six Dojos come together to perform Karate demonstration praying for the Shuri Castle reconstruction and to give courage to the region

Six Dojos come together to perform Karate demonstration praying for the Shuri Castle reconstruction and to give courage to the region

November 4, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Six dojos in Shuri, Naha gathered November 3 at the Sakiyama Park in Sakiyama, Shuri, where around seventy participants performed kata in a votive martial arts demonstration praying for the reconstruction of the recently burned down Shuri Castle.

The castle...

Shuri Castle fire: Crowdfunding campaign raises millions

Shuri Castle fire: Crowdfunding campaign raises millions

November 4, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Following the Shuri Castle fire, the city of Naha set up a bilingual crowdfunding webpage—the Furusato Choice, which piggybacks on the nation-wide Hometown Tax Donation Program system.

The campaign has already collected over 200 million yen as of November...

Korean woman travels through Japan giving free hugs

Korean woman travels through Japan giving free hugs

November 5, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

“The Japanese people I saw in the media and actual Japanese people are different,” says Su-yeon Yoon, who came to Japan as an exchange student and also worked at a hotel in Okinawa.

Yoon has been engaged in a free-hug campaign travelling through all...

Looking back on Shuri Castle, world heritage site: 450 years of Okinawan politics and culture

Looking back on Shuri Castle, world heritage site: 450 years of Okinawan politics and culture

October 31, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Shuri Castle was the principal castle of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and played a central role in Ryukyuan politics and culture for about 450 years, between 1429 and 1879.

According to Shurijo Castle Park’s official website, the grounds are largely divided into...

Editorial: Okinawans should join together in rebuilding Shuri Castle

November 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Shuri Castle has burned down.

This treasure in the hearts of Okinawans which was rebuilt after its destruction in the Battle of Okinawa by the efforts of a large number of people committed to restoring the symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom destroyed in the...

Governor Tamaki states intent to restore Shuri Castle as soon as possible after disastrous fire

Governor Tamaki states intent to restore Shuri Castle as soon as possible after disastrous fire

October 31, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

In response to the Shuri Castle fire, the Okinawa prefectural government held a task force meeting on October 31 at the Prefectural Office.

Governor Denny Tamaki read out a message for the Okinawan people and made known his strong determination...

Shuri Castle’s main hall and north hall completely burned down with fire spreading to other buildings

Shuri Castle's main hall and north hall completely burned down with fire spreading to other buildings

October 31, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

At dawn on October 31, the fire broke out at the main hall of Shuri Castle or Shuri-jo castle in Naha City, Okinawa.

At 2:41 a.m., the Naha City Fire Department received a call about the fire from a security guard at the castle.

As of 7 a.m., the...

Former Soviet Union President Gorbachev says Okinawa needs to have nuclear inspections in interview

Former Soviet Union President Gorbachev says Okinawa needs to have nuclear inspections in interview

October 28, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Tsuyoshi Arakaki

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, 88, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Cold War, sat down with the Ryukyu Shimpo recently in Moscow for an exclusive interview.

When asked if he knew if...

WUB Okinawa discuss advancing tourism at Asia Conference

WUB Okinawa discuss advancing tourism at Asia Conference

October 29, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 28, just two days before “World Uchinanchu Day,” WUB Okinawa (Worldwide Uchinanchu Business Association Okinawa, chaired by Jinkichi Uezu) held its second Asia Conference at the Okinawa Harborview Hotel in Naha City.

Approximately 140 attendees,...

Tree Nymph butterfly selected as Okinawa prefectural butterfly

Tree Nymph butterfly selected as Okinawa prefectural butterfly

October 24, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On October 23, the “Okinawa Prefectural Butterfly” Selection and Advisory Committee held their second meeting at the prefectural office to decide on a prefectural butterfly that represents Okinawa Prefecture.

The committee decided on the Tree Nymph...