Top News

Deaths from Kadena Air Base aircraft noise estimated at 4 people annually

February 19, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 18 at Naha District Court, the oral proceedings of the third Kadena noise pollution lawsuit took place, presided over by Judge Tetuya Fujikura. Professor of environmental health at Hokkaido University Toshihito Matsui, called to the stand as an expert witness, reported an estimation of the effect on the population living around Kadena Air Base, saying, “About four people are dying of heart attacks and strokes per year due to nighttime [aircraft]...

 

Okinawan children excited for snow from Hokkaido

Okinawan children excited for snow from Hokkaido

February 9, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Parents at the Tabaru Aiji Preschool in Tabaru, Naha City, held a snow-play party for the children on February 6. Three-hundred children and their parents attended the event to play with white snow sent from Hokkaido.

The event was held by the parents’...

Newborn baby kangaroo in Okinawa Zoo and Museum

Newborn baby kangaroo in Okinawa Zoo and Museum

February 17, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Giant Kangaroo, or Macropus giganteus, Miyuki gave birth to her fourth baby in the Okinawa Zoo and Museum in Okinawa City. The newborn baby kangaroo has frequently been showing its face from its mother’s pouch. On January 31, the breeding staff of the zoo...

Chatan protests against foreign aircrafts flying to Kadena Air Base

Chatan protests against foreign aircrafts flying to Kadena Air Base

February 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the morning of February 16, the Chatan Town Council held a special meeting to discuss the constant influx of foreign aircrafts flying to the Kadena Air Base. Members unanimously passed a resolution of protest and statement against this issue. The statement...

Okinawa Prefectural Government to form new division to promote karate

Okinawa Prefectural Government to form new division to promote karate

February 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Prefectural Government is setting up a new division within the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports in order to promote karate and kobudo. It is due to start in April.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga clearly stated on February 12 that he would...

Onaga Administration’s 2016 objectives include not allowing construction of new bases

Onaga Administration’s 2016 objectives include not allowing construction of new bases

February 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

At a regular meeting of the Prefectural Assembly on February 16, Governor Takeshi Onaga presented his administration’s 2016 objectives. He also spoke about the Henoko landfill permit authorized by the previous administration, saying that he withdrew the landfill...

Online travel companies actively promote Okinawa as a travel destination

February 12, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

One after another, major international online travel companies are promoting Okinawa as a travel destination. Booking.com (based in the Netherlands) and Expedia (based in the US), have both established regional offices in Okinawa. Japanese domestic integrated...

Lunar New Year celebration on Hamahiga Island

Lunar New Year celebration on Hamahiga Island

February 9, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On February 8, the date of the Lunar New Year, the first prayer of the year, “Hachi ugan”, was offered at a hallowed ground, “Shirumichu”, in Katsuren Higa in Uruma City. It is said that an ancestral god of Ryukyu, Amamichu, and Shirumichu are enshrined...

Wildfire caused by US military live-fire training at Camp Hansen

February 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

At 0:58 p.m. on February 10, near range 9 in the Camp Hansen training area in Kin, wildfire broke out. According to the Okinawa Military Base Affairs Division of the Okinawa Prefectural Government, U.S. Military officials confirmed at 7:27 a.m. on February 11...

Governor Onaga optimistic about settlement involving temporary suspension of Henoko construction

Governor Onaga optimistic about settlement involving temporary suspension of Henoko construction

February 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

February 15 marked the fourth hearing in the trial brought by the Japanese government against the Okinawa prefectural government over the construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. After Okinawa...

Trial over Henoko protest suit to be held at Naha District Court

February 11, 2016Ryukyu Shimpo

After the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) ordered a suspension execution of Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga’s nullification of the permit authorizing land reclamation in Henoko, the Okinawa prefectural government filed a protest...