Top News

Commentary – Okinawa public opinion poll on the 45th anniversary of the Okinawa Reversion Agreement focused on bases, casts shadow on Okinawans

May 9, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Takumi Takimoto

As we look towards the 45th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, while approval ratings of the reversion in a recent public opinion poll of Okinawan residents remain high, they are at their lowest point since similar questions began appearing in the poll 20 years ago. Meanwhile, for the first time, the largest response to “Downsides of the Okinawa Reversion” was, “Damage from U.S. bases.” Despite growing demands for the...

 

Okinawa poll reveals more than 74 percent oppose Henoko relocation, 70 percent consider base concentration “unjust”

May 9, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On May 8, ahead of the 45th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japanese sovereignty on May 15, Ryukyu Shimpo finished conducting an Okinawa prefectural public opinion poll by telephone. Out of the respondents, those that said the reversion was either “very good”...

Use of beets lands Okinawan gelato second place in Gelato World Cup

Use of beets lands Okinawan gelato second place in Gelato World Cup

February 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On January 24, Katsuya Yonemori, a 21-year-old from Tomigusuku City because the first Japanese to win second place in the freestyle category of the SIGEP 2017 Gelato World Cup. About 150 people from around the world competed in this category. Despite having only...

One-hundred-year-old Dr. Tanaka celebrates with 150 people

One-hundred-year-old Dr. Tanaka celebrates with 150 people

May 4, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Ginowan Rotary Club held a party to celebrate Dr. Yoshio Tanaka reaching his 100th year. Dr. Tanaka is currently 99 years old. One hundred and fifty people gathered to celebrate at the party.

Tanaka was born in Taiwan in 1918. He learned about a shortage of...

44% of Okinawans support Article 9, while 22% favor revision, ambivalent responses increase

May 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

With the approach of Constitution Memorial Day on May 3, the Ryukyu Shimpo conducted a public opinion poll of Okinawans at the end of April. The poll was conducted by telephone and included questions about the revision of Article 9 of the constitution, including its...

Celebration to raise awareness for World Uchinanchu Day looking to marry couples

Celebration to raise awareness for World Uchinanchu Day looking to marry couples

May 4, 2017 by Ryukyu Shimpo

Nago – The Wedding Anniversary Party executive committee is planning on holding an annual celebration for people who couples who get married on October 30, to raise awareness for World Uchinanchu Day, which takes places the same day. The co-leaders for the event...

Constitution Rally speaker Hiroji Yamashiro says do not lose heart over Henoko embankment work

Constitution Rally speaker Hiroji Yamashiro says do not lose heart over Henoko embankment work

May 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

To mark 70 years since the constitution came into effect, the May 3 Constitution Rally met in Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Koto Ward, Tokyo. According to the organizers 55,000 people attended, pledging to protect the constitution, to support...

American high school students visit Ie-jima for cultural exchange with local pupils

American high school students visit Ie-jima for cultural exchange with local pupils

April 30, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Hiroe Nakagawa

High school students from Forest Lake Christian School in California and program leaders, 12 people altogether, stayed on Ie-jima the week of April 11 through April 17. These students volunteered in providing English lessons for elementary...

Okinawa Prefecture Issues Habu Alert, Cautioning Vacationers

Okinawa Prefecture Issues Habu Alert, Cautioning Vacationers

May1, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Prefecture issued a habu-bite warning on May 1, as it anticipates increased habu activity as summer kicks off. In recent years, while there has been almost no cases of people dying from a habu bite, each year tens of people are bitten by the viper. There are...

JASDF helicopter misunderstood instructions from air traffic controller at Naha Airport in June 2015

April 28, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

On April 27, the National Transportation Safety Board released a survey report about a case in June 2015 where a helicopter of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) crossed over the sky ahead of an All Nippon Airways (ANA) aircraft that was taking off, leading...

Okinawa mozuku seaweed featured by US CNN online webcast

Okinawa mozuku seaweed featured by US CNN online webcast

April 26, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

A group of reporters from an online webcast from US CNN television, Great Big Story, visited a seafood processing company called Itosan in Itoman City on April 24 and 25 to hear from CEO Tadashi Oshiro about mozuku harvesting and his passion for the product. This...