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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
Former PM thinks retired JMSDF warships could defend Senkakus [Politics]
Nearly every political leader has an idea for defending the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and that includes a former Prime Minister who thinks retired Maritime Self Defens...
LDP lead shrinks in run-up to December 16th election [Politics]
The crucial Lower House elections set for a week from Sunday will set the tenor for Japan’s next year, and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party is struggling to hang on to its l...
2012.12.03
At Oki-Usedcar.com customer satisfaction is basis of all business [Business]
As anyone who has lived on Okinawa any length of time knows, the public transportation on the island leaves much to desire. No rail systems – save a short monorail line in Naha lin...
2012.12.02
III MEF Commander cracks down hard; bans off-base drinking [Military]
For Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck, Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Okinawa Area Coordinator, enough was enough. A Friday night alcohol-fueled off-base traffic ac...
2012.12.01
Orion Beer getting into renewable energy business [Business]
Declining beer sales are part of the reasons being attributed to Orion Beer venturing into a non-brewing industry, choosing to get involved with Japan’s Renewable Energy Purchasing...
Navy’s cracks down hard; Late evening drinking banned for Navy sailors [Military]
There’s no fooling around by U.S. Naval Forces Japan, which has instituted strong restrictions against its active duty personnel, who are now under tighter base controls and limite...
2012.11.30
Nakagusuku Industrial Festival promoting the village [Business]
Nakagusuku Village wants to grow, and is trying to get the word out to everyone on Okinawa that its residents are talented and producing a lot of products used by everyone. While ...
2012.11.30
This week’s winner [Weekly Winners]
Ricardo Gonzalez is the lucky winner of Japan Update raffle this week. He won a pair of tickets to Kinoshita Circus that is pitching up its big top for daily family shows from Dec....
U.S. Marine cyclist injured when hit by motorcycle [News]
A motorcycle turning right toward Uruma City on Highway 329 crashed into a bicycle being ridden by a U.S. Marine, then fled the scene. The 35-year-old Marine fell, suffering facial...
Defense Ministry says MV-22 Ospreys staying on course [News]
The MV-22 helicopters based at Futenma Marine Corps Air Station are mostly sticking to flight paths designated by Japan and the United States. That’s the word from the Japanese Def...
Aeon Town opens in Nanjo City location [News]
Shoppers have a new Aeon center to patronize, with the opening this past week of the Aeon Town Nanjo Ozato Shopping Center. The new shopping center, with 34 tenants lined up around...
Okinawa asked to keep eye out for American Deserter [News]
The Okinawa Prefectural Government said it has been informed that a U.S. serviceman deserted from his unit earlier this month. Nov. 9. The prefecture said it received the notice v...
Complaints mount over Aja River improvements project [News]
The ¥83 million targeted to improve the Shuri district of Naha City by improving the Aja River area has become a nightmare for Okinawa Prefecture as complaints continue to pour in ...
U.S. forces dealt new protest over marine’s alleged trespass [News]
The Japanese government has lodged a protest with the United States over an alleged trespassing incident committed by a service member in Okinawa, asking that military discipline b...
Breaking & entering lands man in jail cell [News]
A 41-year-old Naha City man is learning crime doesn’t pay, after being arrested following his breaking into a building and stealing about ¥2.5 million. Naha Police arrested Sadayuk...
GSDF Sergeant Major arrested on charge of becoming violent [News]
A 33-year-old Sergeant Major with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force base at Camp Naha has been arrested on violence charges after assaulting a woman. Kazuhiro Fujita is denying t...
Drugs violation lands Ginowan woman in jail [News]
Possession and use of a stimulant in violation of Japan’s Stimulants Control Law has put a 27-year-old woman behind bars. Nanae Jajiki, an unemployed woman, was arrested by Ginowan...
2012.11.30
25,000 runners hit streets for Naha Marathon [Sports]
By Bill Charles A marathon begun 28 years ago as an event linking sister cities Honolulu and Naha has become Okinawa’s premier event, attracting more than 26,000 runners to the cha...
2012.11.30
Golden Kings touch is more than ‘golden’ [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
Okinawa’s Ryukyu Golden Kings are riding an unparalleled winning streak in the Basketball Japan League, pushing their record to 12-0 with a pair of weekend victories over the Rizin...
Woman arrested after trying to kill husband [News]
A 79-year-old Yonabaru woman is in police custody on attempted murder charges after she beat her husband with the aluminum handle of a mop. The woman told Yonabaru Police she had e...
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