March 14, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Japanese government formed the “Okinawa Regional Safety Patrol”, also known as “ao-pato” (literally: blue patrol), in response to the 2016 incident in which a U.S. military-civilian (a Marine Corps veteran) killed an Okinawan woman.
The aim of the initiative was to prevent further military-related incidents.
However, the Cabinet stated on March 13, “Its objective is to prevent crimes in Okinawa and does not target specific entities.”...
March 21, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) announced their plan to suspend 60 flight routes from Naha, Fukuoka, Miyako, and Ishigaki from March 29 through April 5.
This decision was made due to reduced demand from passengers amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The...
March 18, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Kazuki Furugen
Recently, 88 pre-war photographs such as the one above, which shows locals gathered on the day of a folk art festival taken in 1925 at the “Ginon Nanmachi,” a national natural monument consisting of a row of pine trees connecting Futuenma...
March 18, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
On March 17 it came to light that townspeople had been successively lodging complaints concerning the national anthems of Japan and the United States being projected at 90 decibels or higher at around 8:00 a.m. from on the compound of MCAS Futenma in Ginowan City,...
March 18, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Kumejima – Enormous sunflower blossoms invite huge smiles. A field in Janadou, Kumejima is blanketed with yellow sunflowers.
Tourists stop to enjoy the contrast between the flowers and the blue sky.
The sunflower field is close to the Kumejima...
March 17, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Kunigami, Okinawa—In the afternoon on March 16, a rescued Okinawa woodpecker was released back into the wild in Ada, Kunigami, where it was found injured. Okinawa woodpeckers are an endangered species and also designated a special national treasure. The bird was...
March 16, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
On March 15, high atmospheric pressure brought clear skies to the Okinawa region. Okinawa’s official flower, the deigo, of the legume family, was in full bloom at the Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park in Okinawa City, to the delight of visitors to the park....
March 15, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Ishigaki – “Japan’s Southernmost point! Yaeyama Beach Opening 2020” (hosted by the Yaeyama Visitor’s Bureau) was held March 14 at Sukuji Beach in Kabira, Yaeyama. However, the event was greatly scaled back as a prevention measure against the spread of...
March 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Miyakojima – Tacos and beans with a spicy flavor that never gets old, refreshing mojitos, and sweet and sophisticated premium tequila.
These can all be enjoyed at El Comal, a Tex-Mex food stand tucked into Shimozato Street in Hirara, Miyakojima.
The...
March 12, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
It came to light on March 11 that through a water quality study conducted on the rivers and drainage channels in Kin Town, Okinawa Prefecture, high concentrations of organic fluorine compounds (PFOS/PFOA), the use of which is principally prohibited within Japan,...
March 9, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Eisa Museum (Eisa Kaikan) opened two years ago in Koza Music Town, Okinawa City, as a hub to inform on all things eisa—a traditional Okinawan performance.
Its main project, the “Eisa University” lecture series, has been gained popularity.
The...
Webcam(Kokusai Street)