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Pick Up Stories
‘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
Okinawa Expressway Renewal Work Starts J… [CURRENT ISSUE]
NEXCO, the company operating the Okinawa Expressway announces that Expressway renewal works start from January 9th in 2024 to late April in ...Read More
Okinawa Assembly declares there’s “burning resentment” over rape [News]
Okinawa’s Prefectural Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution voicing “burning resentment” against the United States and Tokyo for the rape of an Okinawan woman last week. “P...
Motorcyclist injured when hit by mini-car [News]
A mini-car making a right turn at a crossing without a traffic signal crashed into a motorcycle traveling through the intersection, leaving the motorcycle driver hospitalized uncon...
New Tea Awamori being introduced this weekend [Business]
Zuisen Shuzo, an awamori distilling company, is introducing a new Awamori liquor using Okinawan Earl Gray tea leaves as an ingredient during the Okinawa Industrial Fair. The new aw...
Golden Kings open season on a winning roll [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
F our consecutive wins for the reigning Basketball Japan League champions to start the new campaign. That’s the way the 2012-2013 season’s begun for Okinawa’s team, with all four v...
Chinese ships again in waters near Senkaku islets [News]
It’s becoming almost routine; Chinese patrol ships are again in waters near the Senkaku Islands, sending Japanese Coast Guard vessels into oversight mode. Four maritime surveillanc...
Boat owner found dead aboard drifting vessel [News]
A fishing boat has found a small boat, the Umade Maru, drifting with its engine off close to Okanami Island west of Nishizaki in Itoman City, the boat’s owner lying dead in the bow...
3,000 expected to join Sunday’s Marine Cup [Sports]
Open water swimming, beach soccer and beach volleyball are among 16 events wrapped into this year’s Marine Cup in Okinawa, a comprehensive outdoor series of activities in Tomigusuk...
Naha man arrested, charged with embezzling ¥1 million [News]
An unemployed 55—year-old Naha City man has been arrested and is being investigated on charges he embezzled at least ¥1 million from his former employee. Hiroyuki Kayama, was a dut...
Okinawa FamilyMart creates unique internship program [Business]
By Mana Komatsu An attractive program is spreading in Okinawa by university students and a company. The program called “Gaku P Okinawa League” is an internship project ...
U.S., Japan cancel drill on retaking an island [News]
Bowing to pressure from China, the United States and Japan have backed off plans for a joint exercise simulating the retaking of a remote island from foreign forces. The joint dril...
All U.S. Military stationed in Japan now in overnight curfew [News]
Reacting to the rape of a young Okinawa woman early this week, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan has ordered an overnight curfew for all U.S. military personnel in the country. Ambassad...
Surfers set for Sunday Itoman Mayor’s Cup [Sports]
Suicide Cliff Point in Itoman City is the venue Sunday for the 11th Itoman Mayor’s Cup Surfing Contest. The event at the Komesu sea coast is attracting plenty of attention as surfi...
Black bass found in Kanna Dam [News]
Officials at the Okinawa Prefectre General Bureau said on Oct. 12 that they have discovered a black bass in the Kanna Dam in Ginoza Village. They suspect that someone transplanted ...
ATMs for tourists coming at last [News]
ATM and money changer machines that allow visitors from overseas to withdraw cash from their accounts and credit cards has long been a wish among overseas tourists, who are often s...
Japan wary as China brings more ships closer to territory [News]
China has a pair of destroyers among a group of warships that have been spotted in waters near Yonaguni Island in southern Okinawa Prefecture, a move that while legal, has Japan co...
Remote island to be “retaken’ in joint U.S. – Japanese drill [News]
A joint exercise between Japanese Self Defense Forces and American troops is slated for next month as a drill to practice “retaking” an uninhabited island from foreign forces. Bila...
Japan’s Ambassador to the U.S. thinks China watching America [News]
Japan’s ambassador to the United States is watching the Senkaku Islands dispute with China, and is attributing at least some of the calming influences to be coming from respect for...
China issues warning against Japan-Taiwan fishing pact [News]
There’s not much Japan is doing these days that pleases China, which has just come out with a warning that Japan and Taiwan should not restart negotiations on any fishing activitie...
Miss International Beauty Pageant to crown new queen Sunday [CURRENT ISSUE]
Eighty of the world’s most beautiful young women are starting to get that “itchy” feeling in their tummies as the finale to the Miss International Beauty Pageant 2012 takes to the ...
Niigata produce and tourism exhibition at Ryubo [CURRENT ISSUE Gourmet Shopping]
Niigata Prefecture is promoting its products and tourism facilities on the sixth floor of Ryukyu Department Store in Naha through Monday. The fair is open daily from 10:30 a.m. thr...