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US contestants receive traditional Ryukyu music awards

US contestants receive traditional Ryukyu music awards

August 5, 2019 The Ryukyu Shimpo
Sanemichi Kinjo

Two fourth-generation Okinawan-American performers from the Los Angeles branch of the Afuso School of Classical Ryukyu Music Association (Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai USA), Ryan Yasuaki Nakamatsu, 35, and his apprentice, Yuko Yamauchi, 48, were awarded first place and Distinction, respectively, in the Afuso-style sanshin (Okinawan banjo) category of the 54th annual Ryukyu Koten (traditional arts) competition, hosted by...

 

The best in the world from 50 countries show their stuff at the Okinawa Traditional Karate Ceremony

The best in the world from 50 countries show their stuff at the Okinawa Traditional Karate Ceremony

August 5, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The 8th Okinawa Traditional Karate Ceremony (hosted by the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation – IOGKF) held their demonstration event at the Okinawa Budokan in Naha August 4, the final day of the even which opened July 29.

Celebrating...

NIAC foreigner trend survey shows foreigners make up half of population increase, Chinese the largest foreigner group

August 6, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On August 5, the Nansei Shoto Industrial Advancement Center (NIAC, headed by Mitsuru Omine) published a report analyzing trends in resident foreigners in Okinawa.

From July 2018 to July 2019, Okinawa’s total population (prefectural estimate) rose by 6,153,...

The External Affairs Governor Committee demands clarification in SOFA for application of Japanese laws to U.S. forces in document delivered to Japan and the U.S. Embassy

The External Affairs Governor Committee demands clarification in SOFA for application of Japanese laws to U.S. forces in document delivered to Japan and the U.S. Embassy

August 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The “Coordination Committee for Principal Governors Engaged in External Affairs” (also called the External Affairs Governor Committee, Kanagawa Governor Yuuji Kuroiwa, chairman), which is comprised of the governors from the 15 prefectures that host U.S. military...

Tetsumi Takara expresses determination to block FRF construction on his first day in the Diet

Tetsumi Takara expresses determination to block FRF construction on his first day in the Diet

August 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition

Tetsumi Takara, who was elected in the Okinawa at-large district in the House of Councillors election, attended his first National Diet session in Tokyo on August 1.

Takara once more expressed his determination to block construction of the...

German peace organization offers cooperation to “make Henoko a global effort”

German peace organization offers cooperation to “make Henoko a global effort”

August 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Reiner Braun, Co-President of the International Peace Bureau (IPB), a Berlin-based pacifist organization advocating disarmament, held a joint symposium on July 31 with the All-Okinawa Coalition, which comprises political parties and organizations that oppose the...

Peace education workshop for Nakagusuku Village K-12 faculty takes place at war site

Peace education workshop for Nakagusuku Village K-12 faculty takes place at war site

August 2, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Wakana Arakaki

On August 1, Okinawa Prefecture’s Nakagusuku Village Board of Education (BOE) held a Peace Education Workshop, which was intended for all faculty of public schools K-12 within the village.

While there are municipalities that hold workshops...

“Association for Returning Remains to their Homeland” established for joint Japan-South Korea collection of Battle of Okinawa remains in Kenken, Motobu, Okinawa

“Association for Returning Remains to their Homeland” established for joint Japan-South Korea collection of Battle of Okinawa remains in Kenken, Motobu, Okinawa

July 28, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

On July 27, a group called “Association for Returning Remains in Kenken, Motobu to their Homeland” was established with the aim of collecting the remains of fourteen people, including Koreans mobilized during the Battle of Okinawa, that were found in Kenken,...

See the clip of Gov. Tamaki taking the stage at Fuji Rock

See the clip of Gov. Tamaki taking the stage at Fuji Rock

July 28, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki took the stage during the final day of Fuji Rock, Japan’s largest outdoor music festival, held at the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata prefecture on July 28. The session took place at the festival’s Atomic Cafe stage, where the topic centered...

Dugong found in Nakijin ruled to have died from a stingray stinger, says the Ministry of the Environment, Okinawa, and Nakijin while announcing the results of their investigation

Dugong found in Nakijin ruled to have died from a stingray stinger, says the Ministry of the Environment, Okinawa, and Nakijin while announcing the results of their investigation

July 29, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Ministry of the Environment (MoE), Okinawa Prefecture, and Nakijin Village announced July 29 that after conducting an autopsy, a dugong which was found dead in Untengyo Bay in Nakijin in March of this year and is a protected species in Japan was ruled to have...

U.S. veterans to request GAO investigation of Henoko base construction

U.S. veterans to request GAO investigation of Henoko base construction

July 26, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

Veterans for Peace—Ryukyu Okinawa Chapter Kokusai (VFP-ROCK) President Douglas Lummis and members held a press conference at Okinawa’s prefectural press club on July 25. The group announced VFP-ROCK’s intentions to submit a new resolution for approval at the...