CURRENT ISSUE
Pick Up Stories

Okinawa Expressway Renewal Work Starts J… [CURRENT ISSUE LIFE Living]
NEXCO, the company operating the Okinawa Expressway announces that Expressway renewal works start from January 6th to April 28th in 2026 bet...Read More

Itoman Tug-of-War marks end of summer [CULTURE CURRENT ISSUE ENTERTAINMENT]
Many Okinawan farmers and fishermen, in some form or fashion, pay tribute to the Gods, seeking their blessing and favor for a great harvest ...Read More

Awamori "Ku-su" Day [CURRENT ISSUE LIFE]
September 4th is the “Ku-su Day”, with September = ‘9’ which is pronounced ‘kyu’ or ‘ku’ in Japanese, and ‘4’ being pronounced ‘...Read More
Urasoe fireman arrested for break-in, theft [News]
Okinawa City Police arrested a 39-year-old Urasoe City Fire Department fireman, Sunday, on suspicion of breaking into a female acquaintance’s apartment, and stealing a towel. Accor...
2013.11.21
And this week’s winner is… [Weekly Winners]
Pat Albritton is the lucky winner in this week’s Japan Update raffle. He won a pair of tickets to a Ryukyu Golden Kings basketball game, and plans to attend the team’s next home ga...
2013.11.19
Golden Kings again on a roll [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
The home fans couldn’t have been happier, watching their high-flying Ryukyu Golden Kings make winning look easier as they swept a pair from the visiting Shimane Susanoo Magic. Play...
2013.11.19
Get radical skateboarding in Okinawa [Sports]
If you haven’t noticed that skateboarding is very popular on Okinawa then you can definitely confirm you are too old and staying inside your home too much. The skateboarders on Oki...
31ST MEU Deploys to Philippines for disaster relief [Military]
Approximately 900 Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, part of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, are preparing to join the ongoing humanitarian assistance...
Busena Hotel caught for mislabeling [News]
Scandals involving top class hotels and restaurants using cheaper ingredients than what the menu states have recently rocked the whole nation, and it seems Okinawa has not escaped ...
Miyakojima gets surface-to-ship missile launch system [Military]
Deployment of missiles to Miyako Island in southern Okinawa Prefecture is under way, part of a massive military exercise by the Japanese Self Defense Forces. Japan describes the mi...
2013.11.15
Outer islands stars at Islands Fair [Business]
A three-day industrial fair staged by 18 outer island cities, towns and villages presenting the beauty, products and tourism opportunities they offer is ready to get under way. The...
2013.11.14
And this week’s winner is… [Weekly Winners]
The winner of this week’s JU raffle is Diane Reyes, who will enjoy this weekend’s Ryukyu Golden Kings bj-League basketball game when they face Shimane Susanoo Magic at Ginowan City...
2013.11.13
White Beach Festival cancelled [CURRENT ISSUE Festival]
The annual White Beach Festival, an open house event that was scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled. According to Navy MWR officials, the festival was cancelled in the last...
2013.11.13
Golden Kings trade Scootie Randall, grab Draelon Burns [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
When a basketball team’s top scorer gets a pink ticket for a trade, you know the Ryukyu Golden Kings are looking for something special. That’s exactly what happened this week with ...
Additional Ospreys supporting Philippines disaster relief [Military]
Four MV-22B Ospreys are leaving to the Philippines Wednesday to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, The Ospreys are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor ...
Shikina Shrine to get dragon heads for originality [News]
One of Okinawa’s eight major shrines, Shikina Shrine (Shikina-miya) in Hantagawa, Naha City started reconstruction work on its structure, Nov. 6th. The purpose of the reconstructio...
Fish gender change success – world’s first [News]
Okinawa Churashima Foundation councilor Masaru Nakamura and his team announced, Nov. 7, their success of changing a grown adult female fish into a male. Nakamura says that his team...
Chura Shima Okinawa Century Run 2014 cycle race scheduled [Sports]
Organizers of the 5th Chura Shima Okinawa Century Run bicycle race announced that the 2014 race will be held Sunday, Jan 19, 2014. The pre-event for the race takes place a day earl...
Ryukyu Entertainment impresses Paris audience [News]
A group of Okinawan performing artists visiting France held a performance at the Japanese Culture Hall in Paris to rave reviews, Nov. 8th and 9th. The Okinawa Prefecture Ryukyu Ent...
Six marching bands to represent Okinawa in national contest [News]
The 26th Marching in Okinawa 2013 contest was held at Okinawa Convention Center in Ginowan City, Nov. 4. 24 marching groups representing students from Okinawan primary and junior h...
Lawson opens shop inside Itoman City Hall [News]
Lawson Okinawa made a little history when it opened a new Lawson convenience store on the first floor of Itoman City Hall, Nov. 5, making Itoman City hall the first of the 41 city...
2013.11.11
Cartoon characters join Mr. Donut for Christmas [Business]
Santa Claus is coming to town in only 49 days, but Snoopy and Woodstock are already in the festive mood, celebrating the upcoming holiday season at Mr. Donut. Mister Donut, who onl...
Taiwan fishermen getting okay to fish Senkakus [News]
Japan and Taiwan this week have signed new agreements that, among other things, permit Taiwanese to fish in the disputed East China Sea waters Japan calls the Senkaku Islands. Taiw...
