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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
2013.07.29
All Okinawa Soccer Festival set for August 4th [Sports]
For the second straight year, an All Okinawa Soccer Festival is slated for Sunday, August 4th, in conjunction with an FC Ryukyu game at Okinawa Comprehensive Athletic Park. Festiva...
2013.07.29
Iheya Moonlight Marathon looking for runners [Sports]
The Iheya Moonlight Marathon doesn’t take place until Saturday, Oct. 19th, but organizers are now midway through registration, which remains open until Aug. 15th or until the quota...
2013.07.25
Japan readies survey ships for East China Sea duty [News]
A pair of geological survey ships are now being loaded with supplies in preparation for deployment to the East China Sea. The Japanese government has ordered the ships to be prepar...
Ginowan Police nabs three for growing pot [News]
Ginowan police has arrested three men on July 16, on suspicion of breaking the Cannabis Control Law. 25-year-old Masane Nakamura who works as a lifeguard, 26-year-old Hirotomo Alug...
Gas explosion shakes Nansei Oil refinery [News]
A gas explosion occurred at the Nansei Oil Company plant in the Onaha district of Nishihara Town about 11:30 a.m. on July 19. A company spokesman said that the explosion took place...
Robbery attempt in Naha [News]
A would-be robber entered into an Internet cafe in Kohagura, Naha City, about 5 a.m., on July 21. The man had covered his face with a mask and towel, and threatened the staff at a ...
2013.07.25
Government intends to stick with Heneko plan [News]
It did not take long after the LDP’s resounding victory in the Upper House elections last Sunday for the government to confirm its intention to stick with the long-stalled plan to ...
40% of pineapple crop damaged by typhoon Soulik [News]
Typhoon Soulik that hit Ishigaki Island about ten days ago, damaged 40% of the island’s pineapple crop that was ready to be harvested for sale, according to Okinawa JA. The storm b...
Blank ballots found in Naha election [News]
After the ballot counting of Naha City councilors’ election on July 21, voting officials found more than 3,000 blank ballots in the ballot boxes. Voting officials suspect that ther...
2013.07.25
Gima scrapes enough votes to win seat in House of Councilors [Politics]
Mitsuo Gima, the 69-year-old former Urasoe City mayor was elected to the House of Councilors through the proportional representation lists. Gima was elected to the City Council of ...
Irrigation worries in Miyako [News]
JA Miyakojima and Miyakojima City officials’ had a meeting on measures against dry weather that took place July 19, at Miyakojima City Hall. Participants to the meeting decided to ...
Naha City councilors election [News]
The Naha City councilors’ election was held last Sunday, July 21, the same day as the nationwide Japan House of Councilors election. The vote count started on the same day and 40 s...
2013.07.25
House of Councilors winners divided on Futenma move [Politics]
The two Okinawa winners in the House of Councillors election are at opposite ends of the spectrum on relocating Futenma Marine Corps Air Station to a sparsely populated area in nor...
Japan readies survey ships for East China Sea duty [News]
A pair of geological survey ships are now being loaded with supplies in preparation for deployment to the East China Sea. The Japanese government has ordered the ships to be prepar...
2013.07.25
The big question: What’s next for Abe? [Politics]
Economic revitalization is a key task that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe needs to address after his Liberal Democratic Party enjoyed a sweeping victory in the House of Council...
Ruling bloc takes control of Upper House [Politics]
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party achieved a big win in the House of Councilors election Sunday, helping end years of divided parliament that has kept the country’...
Kinser access granted by new Urasoe-USMC agreement [News]
Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto of Urasoe City and Col. Edmund J. Bowen, commanding officer of Camp Kinser and Combat Logistics Regiment 37, have signed a limited humanitarian access agree...
2013.07.25
And this week’s winner is… [Weekly Winners]
Winner of the JU raffle this week is Muneerah Bee, who won a free one-night stay at the Best Western Naha Inn hotel. The Best Western Naha Inn is conveniently located in the heart ...
2013.07.19
Kennedy to become U.S. Ambassador to Japan [News]
The daughter of the late American president John F. Kennedy is about ready to become U.S. Ambassador to Japan. The 55-year-old Caroline Kennedy, an attorney and current president o...
Lost chickens? [News]
A surprised passer-by discovered a group of small chicken chicks by the shore of Yakena Seaport in the Yonashiro district of Uruma City in the morning of July 13, and called the po...
