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Okinawa marks 52nd anniversary of revers… [Politics]
May 15th marked the 52nd anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to the Japanese administration in 1972. According to published figures, the Japa...Read More
‘Year of the Dragon’ begins in Okinawan … [CULTURE CURRENT ISSUE]
Legend has it that Buddha asked all animals to meet him on the Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one, and an...Read More
Pro-Baseball Spring Training 2024 [Family Sports]
Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture in Japan, and that means it’s the warmest place in the country in the wintertime. Because of that, ma...Read More
Money woes make Tedako Festival fireworks fizzle [News]
The 37th Urasoe Tedako Festival committee is in a tough spot. The city has cut back ¥30 million in funding available for this weekend festival, and although the committee has tried...
Drastic drop in supply of goya, cucumbers and okra [News]
Due to damage from Typhoon Neoguri, Okinawa’s summer vegetables are running on short supply and prices are going through the roof. At the central vegetable wholesale market i...
Chatan to increase hotels for tourists from abroad [Business]
Chatan city officials announced on Jul. 12 a plan to increase the hotel and business area adjacent to the Depo Island in Mihama. According to the plan, three new hotels, specifical...
New business, housing and hotel development in Naha [Business]
The old center of Naha City around Kokusai Street is going to get a new shot in the arm with the redevelopment of the Makishi area. Two new landmark buildings will be constructed o...
Nago Fire Station HQ to move to Okita [News]
The Nago Fire Station Headquarters, currently located in Agarie, will be moving to Okita in the fiscal year 2016. The new headquarters feature larger and improved training building...
Okinawa sees largest increase in number of travelers [Business]
According to the Japan Government Tourism Agency numbers released over the weekend, the number of travelers to Okinawa increased 33.4% in 2013, marking the largest increase in the ...
Orix truck rental to open shop in Kyoda [Business]
Orix Auto Corp. is scheduled to open a commercial vehicle and truck rental shop in Kyoda, Nago City, Monday. Besides trucks and vans, the outlet will offer construction machinery f...
JASDF cargo aircraft transport Miyako mango [News]
The Ministry of Defense received a request on Jul. 10th from Okinawa Prefecture officials to transport a cargo of mangoes from Miyako Island as normal flights had not yet been resu...
Typhoon damages Tokashiki Port, Tamaudun Mausoleum [News]
Typhoon Neoguri damaged a tetrapod breakwater in Tokashiki Port causing the scheduled July 10 ferry run from Takashiki to Naha to be canceled. Also, the World Heritage Site Tamaudu...
Two tourists drown in Miyako swimming accident [News]
Two tourists who went to swim off the Sunayama Beach on Miyako Island drowned, Thursday morning. A third man also sank under water off the same beach but was rescued. According to ...
2014.07.10
And this week’s winner is… [Weekly Winners]
This week’s winner of Japan Update raffle is Ku’uleialoha Ampong. She won a pool voucher to the Spa & Resort Hotel Monterey in Onna Village. She is sure to enjoy a cool dip int...
Japan’s first emergency warnings issued for Typhoon Neoguri [News]
On Jul. 7th, Typhoon Neoguri headed northwest towards Okinawa’s southern shore while all the time becoming stronger. On the same day, the Meteorological Agency announced an e...
Naha Jazz opens season [News]
Public jazz performances have started every Friday and Saturday on the streets of Naha City from Jul. 4th. The first performance was held at the open space in front of Palette Kumo...
Yakiniku Jojoen to open shop in Okinawa [News]
A high-class yakiniku chain restaurant Jojoen has announced the opening of its first outlet in Naha on the 3rd floor of the Rukahu Omoromachi Bldg., near the monorail Omoromachi St...
Neoguri hits, but Okinawa dodges nasty typhoon [News]
Neoguri was spawned late in the week, building bluster and swirling filled with intimidation as it built to super typhoon status and evoked memories of Typhoon Bart back in 1999, a...
390 young people go into farm business [News]
The number of youngsters who are considering future careers in the agriculture business is increasing. The Okinawa government long-term aim is to train 300 new farmers in the prefe...
USJ mulls Nago location [News]
According to local press reports on Jul. 4th, Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is considering Nago City as a possible location of a new theme park. Specifically, the company has its e...
Ryu Shichinohe wins Judo World Championship [Sports]
The 2014 Judo Grand Prix contest was held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia over the weekend. Ryu Shichinohe, an alumni of Naha Nishi High School, participated as one of the Japan Team membe...
Runners wanted for Sho Hashi Half Marathon [Sports]
Applications for the 13th Sho Hashi Half Marathon in Nanjo City on Nov. 2nd are accepted now through Aug. 7th. The start and finish line of the marathon is at the Nanjo Culture Cen...
199 mongooses captured [News]
Okinawa Prefecture Wildlife Preservation officials announced that since the beginning of the year they had captured 199 mongooses by the end of June. The Ministry of Environment an...
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