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Korean Air Lines operating four round trip charter flights between Incheon and Shimojishima

Korean Air Lines operating four round trip charter flights between Incheon and Shimojishima

May 9, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 8 the major South Korean airline company Korean Air Lines announced that it will operate charter flights between Incheon and Shimojishima from the Miyako Shimojishima Airport Terminal in Irabu, Miyakojima City. This will be the first international charter route operated out of this airport. Four round trips will take place between May 31 and June 9 with Korean tourists on board.

Mitsubishi Estate, which operates the terminal and Shimojishima Airport...

 

Dr. Satoshi Shirai, Kyoji Yanagisawa question Japanese sovereignty at East Asia Community Institute Symposium, “The system of concentrating bases in Okinawa is designed to hide the problem from mainland Japan”

Dr. Satoshi Shirai, Kyoji Yanagisawa question Japanese sovereignty at East Asia Community Institute  Symposium, “The system of concentrating bases in Okinawa is designed to hide the problem from mainland Japan”

May 6, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The East Asia Community Institute Okinawa (Ryukyu) held a public symposium titled, “Calling into question democracy in Japan – is Japan really an independent, democratic nation?” at the Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Izumizaki, Naha May 5 (with support from Ryukyu Shimpo...

Woman who survived the war and postwar eras performs “kajimaya” celebration for 97 years of life in Zamami, an island of 600

Woman who survived the war and postwar eras performs “kajimaya” celebration for 97 years of life in Zamami, an island of 600

May 6, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

(Zamami) On April 28, a “kajimaya” celebration to celebrate 97 years of life and a “michi-june” parade were held in Zamami.

Ume Miyahira, age 96, of Zamami was the protagonist of the kajimaya celebration. She was born on March 14, 1923.

Miyahira...

Emigrant returns from Brazil after hardship: “Dreams do come true.”

Emigrant returns from Brazil after hardship: “Dreams do come true.”

May 4, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Takaya Kinra

Isa, Ginowan City—Ansaburo Takushi, 76, emigrated to Brazil after the U.S. military seized his land, and later returned to Okinawa.

Takushi recently published an autobiography, titled “Ishihama Land Seizure and the Isahama Immigrants...

71 unused U.S. blank cartridges found on returned NTA land, reminders of military presence

71 unused U.S. blank cartridges found on returned NTA land, reminders of military presence

May 3, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

While Akino Miyagi was researching insects in Takae, Higashi Village in April this year, he found 71 unused U.S. blank cartridges on April 6 in the vicinity of what was the LZ-FBJ helipad on returned Northern Training Area (NTA) land in Kunigami Village.

Miyagi...

“Sleeping Awamori” from shuttered Miyako distillery gets reawakened as part of Naha bar’s Awamori project

“Sleeping Awamori” from shuttered Miyako distillery gets reawakened as part of Naha bar’s Awamori project

May 2, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Undistilled Awamori from the defunct Chiyoizumi Distillery in Miyako has once again entered the market, exciting those in the Awamori world.

As part of the “Liquor Pride Project” by Koji Higa, owner of Awamori Souko, an Awamori specialty bar in the Kume...

Local fishermen oppose U.S. parachute drop training by Tsukenjima during mozuku peak season

May 3, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 2 the U.S. military conducted parachute drop training over the ocean at Tsukenjima Training Area in Uruma City.

In the exercise, nine people in total dropped out of an MC-130 special mission aircraft.

This is the second such training conducted...

Rally meets in Tokyo protesting ongoing acts of sexual violence by U.S. military personnel

Rally meets in Tokyo protesting ongoing acts of sexual violence by U.S. military personnel

April 30, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 29 a rally met at the Bunkyo Civic Center in Tokyo to protest the presence of the U.S. bases and military personnel in Okinawa.

The rally was held in observation of the third anniversary of the rape and murder committed by a former U.S. Marine....

Okinawa prefectural museum starts an exhibition displaying 250 new items

Okinawa prefectural museum starts an exhibition displaying 250 new items

May 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 30, the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum started their “New Collection Exhibition.”

The exhibition displays about 250 items that were donated or bought in the last year.

The items include human bones of the Minatogawa people,...

Battle of Okinawa survivors speak of mixed feelings about the emperor system, memories of war, and the emperor’s visits to Okinawa (Heisei and Okinawa)

Battle of Okinawa survivors speak of mixed feelings about the emperor system, memories of war, and the emperor’s visits to Okinawa (Heisei and Okinawa)

April 28, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Yoshinori Takada

On April 30, the emperor will abdicate, marking the end of the Heisei era. The emperor has visited Okinawa eleven times from the time he was crown prince to the present. Both the emperor and empress have visited Okinawa, the only place...

Three US students win Okinawa Essay Contest

Three US students win Okinawa Essay Contest

April 28, 2019 Rykyu Shimpo
By Tamiko Suzuki

The Okinawa Prefectural Government and the George Washington University Okinawa Collection held an awards ceremony at the university’s Gelman Library in D.C. on March 19 to recognize the Okinawa Essay Contest winners.

The contest...