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
Ginowan man fined ¥500,000 for pointing laser at U.S. helo [News]
A summary court in Naha ordered a Ginowan man to pay a ¥500,000 fine, Monday, for pointing a laser beam at a Marine helicopter near MCAS Futenma in July. Police had arrested 56-yea...
OPG takes Tokyo to court over Henoko plan [Politics]
The fight over the MCAS Futenma relocation to Henoko again escalated as the Okinawa Prefectural Government took the central government to the court after the legal moves the centra...
Naha Rec Center to become hotel, duty free shop [Business]
Japan Post Holdings owned recreation facility Kanpo-no-Yado Naha Recreation Center in Minatomachi, Naha City, will become a duty-free shop and hotel next year. The facility closed ...
Draft budget earmarks ¥335 billion for Okinawa [News]
The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a ¥335 billion draft budget for Okinawa for fiscal 2016 on Dec. 24th. That is a little over two percent below the budgetary reques...
Nago, Nishihara HS’s take marching championships [News]
The 43rd Japan Marching Band Association National Championship finals took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture on, Dec. 20th. Nago High School won the ...
2015.12.22
Golden Kings again split weekend road game series [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
The Ryukyu Golden Kings were against the Fukushima Firebonds in the weekend game series that was played at Koriyama Sogo Gymnasium in Fukushima Prefecture. Things quite did not go ...
2015.12.22
Two more weeks left to register for 2016 Okinawa Corporate Games [Sports]
The deadline to sign up for the 2016 Okinawa Corporate Games is approaching fast. The deadline for signing up is Dec. 31st to join in the three days of festive fun that includes a ...
2015.12.22
Shaping surfboard is form of art [Sports]
Having the knowledge and ability to skillfully shape a surfboard is a pretty big deal. Although there are amateur backyard shapers who may claim that they can shape a fine board, s...
Okinawa visitor numbers again post new record [News]
The Okinawa Prefecture Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports announced the number of visitors to the island between January and November this year hit all time record. Accordin...
Season’s first whale spotted off Zamami [News]
A young humpback whale was spotted for the first time this season about four kilometers southwest off Zamami Island around 13:00, Monday. Whales usually migrate from areas around A...
New Year falling on weekend dampens air travel [Business]
The main domestic airline companies running regular flights to Okinawa, JAL, ANA, and JTA all announced a decrease in the year-end holiday season reservations. Only RAC that flies ...
Two Motobu men arrested for taxi robbery, assault [News]
Nago Police arrested two men Sunday on suspicion of an assault and robbery of a taxi driver in Motobu Town. According to the police, the two are suspected of kicking and hitting th...
Group of kids busted for drinking party in park [News]
Okinawa City Police took nine 14-year-old junior high school boys and girls and one 11-year-old elementary school boy from Okinawa City into custody Saturday on suspicion of drinki...
Yomitan man nabbed driving drunk 7 times over limit [News]
Kadena Police arrested on the spot a 32-year-old man from Tokeshi, Yomitan Village, who runs a pork business on suspicion of drinking and driving in addition to driving without a l...
DUI suspect locks himself in house, arrested after warrant [News]
The Prefectural Police Traffic Mobile Unit arrested a 22-year-old male college student from Minami-Uebaru, Nakagusuku Village, Dec. 16th, on suspicion of drinking and driving. The ...
Two Naha parks to start to impose parking fees [CURRENT ISSUE]
Naha City Government announced that it would start charging a fee for parking in two of its public parks, the Shintoshin Park and Manko Park, in Naha City. The charges will begin o...
JTA to change contract workers to regular status [Business]
The Japan Transocean Air Co., Ltd. (JTA), and Okinawa-based subsidiary of Japan Airlines, announced on Dec. 15th the switching of all of their 46 flight attendants, who are current...
Two abandoned boats burn down at Tomari Port [News]
A fire broke out at Tomari Fishing Port in Minato-machi, Naha City, about 14:53 on Dec. 17th that destroyed two abandoned boats docked on the shore. No one was injured in the fire....
Yomitan Mayor accepts relocation of Kinser functions to Torii [News]
Denjitsu Ishimine, the Mayor of Yomitan Village, agreed in a regular meeting of the village assembly on Dec. 16th to the relocation of part of functions of Camp Kinser to Torii Sta...
Fire destroys house, one resident dead [News]
A fire broke out in a concrete house in Takahara, Okinawa City, in the afternoon of Dec. 16th. After the fire, firefighters found a body a female believed to be one of the resident...
