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Iejima residents travel to South America to trace the history of emigration from the island

Iejima residents travel to South America to trace the history of emigration from the island

August 31, 2015 Yukito Kinjo, Correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo

In advance of the 6th World Uchinanchu Festival to be held in October of next year, a group of Ie residents traveled around various parts of South America from August 11 to 21 to meet with migrants who moved there from Ie after World War II. This was the first such trip by a group of residents of Ie Village.

The leader of the group was Tokusei Miyazato, superintendent of Ie’s board of education. The group comprised a...

 

Okinawa Government starts diving operation to investigate possible damage to coral reef

Okinawa Government starts diving operation to investigate possible damage to coral reef

August 31, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the morning of August 31, the Okinawa Prefectural Government started a diving operation to investigate whether coral reef has been damaged in and around a temporary restricted area in Oura Bay, off the coast of Henoko, Nago. There, the Okinawa Defense Bureau...

2,500 protesters gather in Okinawa as part of national action against new security bill

2,500 protesters gather in Okinawa as part of national action against new security bill

August 31, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On the evening of August 30, at the Yogi Park in Naha, a rally demanding the scrapping of a new security bill, the cancellation of construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, and the resignation of the Abe administration was held.
According to the organizer,...

Okinawa holds job fair for students from China’s Fujian province

Okinawa holds job fair for students from China's Fujian province

August 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Okinawa Prefectural Government and the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau held a job fair at Hotel Royal Orion in Naha on the morning of August 27. The fair was aimed at 17 college and university students from China’s Fujian province who visited Okinawa...

Misako Koja and Ryuichi Sakamoto to co-produce song for Henoko Fund

Misako Koja and Ryuichi Sakamoto to co-produce song for Henoko Fund

August 24, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

Folk singer Misako Koja has written lyrics for a song, “Undercooled,” which is originally composed by musician Ryuichi Sakamoto as part of a new album called, “Mirukuyugafu”, to be released on October 7. Koja’s group, Unaigumi, sings...

Angama celebrates return of ancestral spirits on Ishigaki’s Unke

Angama celebrates return of ancestral spirits on Ishigaki's Unke

August 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 26, the first day of Okinawa’s Obon, called Unke in Ishigaki City, a traditional Yaeyama ceremony, Angama, was held throughout the community. Messengers from Guso (afterlife), Ushumai (an old man) and Nmii (an old woman) brought Fama (descendants)...

Hiroji Yamashiro says opposition movement will not lose the fight for Henoko

Hiroji Yamashiro says opposition movement will not lose the fight for Henoko

August 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

Hiroji Yamashiro, a leading figure in the opposition movement continuing in front of Camp Schwab, Henoko, against construction of the new base, and chairman of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center, was released from hospital on the 26th of this month. He has been...

NGO network formed to protect Henoko and Takae

NGO network formed to protect Henoko and Takae

August 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 26, fourteen NGOs and citizens’ groups established the “Protect Henoko and Takae! NGO Network.” Among the groups participating in the network were FoE Japan, Greenpeace Japan, Ramsar Network Japan, Peace Boat, and other groups and organizations...

The number of tourists visiting Okinawa hits July record as Chinese nationals flock here

August 21, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The number of tourists visiting Okinawa in July increased 9.2 percent from the same month in 2014 to a record 714,000 visitors, according to data released by the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports on August 20. It was the first time the number of tourist...

Typhoon Goni causes damages of 780 million yen to agriculture, fisheries in Okinawa

Typhoon Goni causes damages of 780 million yen to agriculture, fisheries in Okinawa

August 26, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

According to a quick estimation announced by the Okinawa Prefectural Government on August 25, the amount of damage to agriculture, forestry and fisheries caused by Typhoon Goni reached a total of 781,640,000 yen.

Yaeyama islands, where the typhoon registered...

Johan Galtung, ‘the father of peace studies’, says prime minister misused the term “proactive peace”

Johan Galtung, ‘the father of peace studies’, says prime minister misused the term “proactive peace”

August 23, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 22, Johan Galtung, world-renowned as ‘the father of peace studies’, came to Okinawa to speak at a symposium at Urasoe’s Tedako Hall, hosted by the Ryukyu Shimpo and New Diplomacy Initiative, titled, “70 Years After World War II, Galtung Speaks...