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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
Typhoon brings much needed rain to Miyako [News]
The 12th typhoon of the season hit Miyako Island last week, but instead of complaining about damage to their crops, farmers in Miyako welcomed the typhoon and the rain it brought t...
OTS makes improvements to foreign visitor services [Business]
In order to improve services to the increasing number of foreign visitors to Okinawa, Okinawa Tourist Service (OTS) has installed an automated currency exchange machine in its main...
2013.08.19
Okinawan pro-wrestling is roaring back [Sports]
It has been about a year when Okinawa’s sole pro-wrestling company closed its doors after pushing and showing for five years, but now those who are entertained by these fights have...
Highest temperature ever recorded on Okinawa [News]
Japan continues to swelter under the relentless summer sun that has this year set new records in many regions, including Okinawa. According to the Okinawa Metrological Agency, the ...
Kitanakagusuku convenience store robbed at knife-point [News]
A convenience store in Kitanakagusuku was robbed at knife-point, Aug. 7. According to Okinawa City Police, a man wearing a surgical mask entered the store around midnight, walked t...
Ishigaki students discover two new small planets [News]
An event called “Churaboshikenkyutai” was held for high school students from August 7 through 9th on Ishigaki Island at the Ishigaki-jima Astronomical Observatory. The event promot...
Tourists select Okinawa best destination to visit [News]
Okinawa gained a top spot in a customer satisfaction (CS) survey a Tokyo survey agency Recruit Lifestyle conducted in all prefectures of Japan recently. Yoshihiro Kitamura, the pre...
AED saves first life at Yui-rail Akamine station [News]
Starting June 20 this year, the company operating Okinawa’s urban monorail, known as Yui-rail installed automated external defibrillators (AED) on all of its 15 stations. In July, ...
Musician arrested on suspicion of hit and run [News]
Okinawa Police arrested 39-year-old Leon Higa, a musician living in Kitanakagusuku, on Aug. 7, on suspicion of hitting a 72-year-old man with the car he was driving and the leaving...
GSDF base plan gains nod from Yonaguni [News]
Yonaguni etched closer to accepting Japan Ground Self Defense Forces’ plans to establish a base on the westernmost island of Japan as the incumbent Yonaguni Mayor Shukichi Hokama w...
2013.08.15
And this week’s winner is… [Weekly Winners]
Pietro Scozzari is from Bologna, Italy, who has lived on Okinawa over a year, starting 2011 with shuttling between Italy and Okinawa. Currently he’s a resident of Naha. He won the ...
Osprey arrivals to Okinawa ‘on track’ [News]
The arrival of ten additional MV-22 Osprey to Okinawa is under way, a temporary halt in the aftermath of the crash of a U.S. Air Force helicopter. The Marines informed the central ...
2013.08.10
Oliver Stone visiting Okinawa to discuss U.S. base issue [Politics]
American director, producer and screenwriter will be joining a former Okinawa governor and two other panelists on Wednesday, August 14th, to discuss U.S. military base issues on Ok...
2013.08.09
Prime Minister to stick with sales tax increase [Politics]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears determined now to press ahead with plans to raise Japan’s sales tax as scheduled, in hopes of making crucial repairs to the nation’s finances. Abe...
2013.08.09
Combined Okinawa Body-Building & Fitness Championship Sunday [Sports]
The 39th Okinawa Body-Building & Fitness Championship finals are coming up Sunday at the Tedako Hall in Urasoe City, the first time it’s being held with the combined body-build...
Hilton to open at former Ginbaru military training site [Business]
Kin Town made an announcement at Kin Community Hall, July 30, that one of the largest hotel companies in the world, the U.S.-based Hilton Worldwide, will run a hotel to be built on...
August 2 was Day of Habu [News]
August 2 was the day dedicated to Okinawa’s infamous habu snake. That is because number eight (August) reads hachi (ha) and two can be read hu (bu) in Japanese, so thus “ha-bu.” To...
Heat wave sends vegetable prices soaring [News]
Then intense heat wave is pushing up the prices of vegetables throughout Japan as the heat causes the veggies to wilt and stop growing. This has lead to a shortage of vegetables th...
Ishigaki inaugurates free public Wi-Fi [News]
In order to help visitors better find their way on Ishigaki Island, the Ishigaki City has started a project to install a Wi-Fi network that first covers the main tourist locations ...
Some people like it hot [News]
The current intense heat wave that’s recently been baking Okinawa has been a boon to local shops selling drought management items and heat fighting products. A DIY shop in Okinawa ...
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