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Pick Up Stories
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
2014.05.15
Rising tourism taxing Naha Airport facilities [Business]
Tourists are flocking to Okinawa in ever increasing numbers, a boon for the local economy but putting pressure on Naha International Airport’s domestic and international terminals...
Henoko airfield construction to begin in fall [News]
Saying it wants to honor Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima’s desire to have the controversial Futenma Marine Corps Air Station closed within five years, the government of Japan say...
2014.05.13
Golden Kings trash Phoenix; head to finals [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
The Ryukyu Golden Kings put on a spectacular show for the home fans, demolishing the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in a pair of semi-final showdowns that propelled Okinawa to the...
Yaeyama Islands prepare for influx of foreign visitors [News]
Yaeyama Visitors Bureau has collected information on accommodations on Ishigaki, Taketomi and Yonaguni islands that say they are able to welcome tourists from overseas. Apart from ...
Yui no Hama Park opens in Ogimi Village [News]
Yui no Hama Park is open in Shioya, Ogimi Village. Yui no Hama is a park built for children and adults to have a great time. At the park opening ceremony, Apr. 30, Village Mayor Yo...
Number of fans at Kings’ games passes 100,000 [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
The number of spectators attending the Ryukyu Golden Kings’ basketball games this season has passed 100,000. According to the team spokesman, 101,054 fans have bought tickets to se...
Passengers on GW flights to Okinawa increase 8.8% [Business]
All five domestic airlines have announced their passenger numbers during the Golden Week from April 25th through May 6th. The total number of passengers on all airlines flying to a...
Five marine leisure accidents reported during holidays [News]
During the long holiday of Golden Week, five marine leisure accidents took place on Okinawa, according to Eleventh Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. In the five accidents, two peo...
Body found on Miyako beach [News]
A passerby found a body of a man washed ashore on Painagama Beach in Hirara, Miyakojima City on Miyako Island, Thursday afternoon. Miyako Police identified the body as a 76-year-ol...
Naha purse snatcher strikes again in Kume [News]
A string of purse snatches continues in Naha. A man riding a motorcycle approached a 59-year-old woman from behind, and snatched her purse containing about ¥25,000 cash, Thursday, ...
2014.05.07
Golden Kings rest as playoffs begin [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
By Jun Ikemura It pays to be the Western Conference Champions, as it earns a free opening weekend of the Basketball Japan League playoffs. The Ryukyu Golden Kings, by winning the W...
Urasoe City names new deputy mayor [News]
The post of Urasoe City deputy mayor has been vacant, but on May 1st the Urasoe City Municipal Assembly appointed 57-year-old Hiroyuki Noguchi, the current chief of general affairs...
Inquiries about ETC discounts swamp expressway office [News]
Due to recent consumption tax hike, changes have been made regarding weekday discounts of expressway toll fees when using ETC. Details and procedures are complicated, and even conf...
Number of children decreases 33rd consecutive year [News]
According to statistics of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the estimated number of children under 15 of age in Japan has fallen to 16.3 million, marking the 3...
Sugarcane field burns in Miyako, arson suspected [News]
A sugarcane field was ablaze on Shimoji Island off Miyako Island in the morning of May 3. The fire was discovered about 10 a.m. and it burned about 5,000 square meters of sugarcane...
Rainy season on Okinawa has started [News]
The Meteorological Agency has declared the rainy season started in Okinawa, five days earlier than last year and four days earlier than on average. Many parts of Okinawa experience...
Pilot shortage hurting Peach Aviation [News]
A surging Peach Aviation has been dealt setbacks by a shortage of pilots, and is now being forced to cancel flights in the busy summer season. Peach may have to cancel some 2,072 f...
Elderly woman found dead off Yomitan seashore [News]
A 79-year-old woman was found floating close to the shore in Tokeshi, Yomitan Village, Wednesday afternoon. She was transferred to a hospital in cardiopulmonary arrest, but attempt...
Man arrested for hiring underage prostitute [News]
Naha Police arrested a 43-year-old man from Ikehara, Okinawa City, Wednesday, on suspicion of paying for sex with an underage girl. Investigators say Shinji Shimabukuro contacted a...
Woman suspected of arson in Ishigaki guesthouse fire [News]
Yaeyama Police arrested a 32-year-old woman, Apr. 29, on suspicion of setting a two-story guesthouse on fire in Okawa, Ishigaki City. The woman who was staying in the facility as a...
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