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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
Civic group asks U.S. president, ambassador to meet governor [News]
A civic group protesting the new base construction at Henoko, ‘Wankara Citizens’ Association’ (Wankara shimin-no kai), announced to organizing a protest ally in front of the U.S. C...
Student ruled not liable for murder due insanity [News]
The Naha District Public Prosecutors Office dropped murder charges against a 21-year-old college student who was arrested after he attacked and killed a man with a kitchen knife at...
Year’s first typhoon passes through without causing damage [News]
A fast-moving, strong typhoon ‘Noul’ passed through Okinawa in the early morning hours of May 12th. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the typhoon registered maximum win...
Kagoshima Bank prepares entry to Okinawa market [Business]
A major regional bank in the Kyushu district, the Kagoshima Bank with its head office in the Kagoshima Prefecture, held a board meeting on May 8th, in which it officially announced...
Governor Onaga prepares to take his case to Washington [News]
Prefectural government officials announced May 11th that Governor Takeshi Onaga is scheduled to travel to the U.S. for five days to express directly to U.S. officials, politicians ...
Don Quijote shops accept payments in foreign currency [News]
Don Quijote, one of the main discount store chains in the country that has three shops on Okinawa, has started accepting payments in foreign currencies in its main outlets. The new...
Deadline looms for amateur teams in baseball tournament [Sports]
The biggest and best-known baseball tournament on the island, an event spanning more than four months, is still accepting teams to participate. The deadline for the 21st Amateur ba...
Phoenix push Golden Kings out of playoffs [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
It was sheer disappointment for the Okinawa fans as they watched their beloved Golden Kings struggle before losing twice to the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in the Basketball Ja...
Large protest against Henoko plan to be staged in Naha [News]
Prefectural Assembly members, representatives of local businesses and civic groups opposing the construction of a replacement facility to MCAS Futenma in Henoko spoke to media in N...
Locals playing on military golf courses irk civilian course operators [News]
Representatives of Okinawa Golf Business Council Association, a local business group consisting of local golf course and golf driving range operators, visited the Prefectural Offic...
Just planted hibiscus trees stolen from Manko Park [News]
24 young hibiscus trees that had just been planted in a flowerbed at Manko Park in Naha City were pulled up and stolen on May 6th. Naha City that manages the park is planning to f...
Numbers of DUIs show increase [News]
Okinawa Prefectural Police announced catching 28 people for driving under influence over the Golden Week holiday period from Apr. 29 through May 6. The number is one more than over...
Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Chibli fame joins Henoko Kikin group [News]
A world acclaimed animation movie director Hayao Miyazaki has joined Henoko Kikin group that is dedicated for collecting funds to finance activities opposing the construction of th...
Gunnery Sergeant arrested for speeding, refusing breathalyzer [News]
Kadena Police arrested 32-year-old GySgt Jason Day stationed on Camp Foster on May 7th on suspicion of violation of the Road Traffic Law. According to Kadena Police, Day has admitt...
American school kids compete in abacus contest [News]
All Japan Abacus Association Okinawa branch held the 16th American Soroban Contest for children of U.S. military and civilian personnel on Okinawa at Culture Resort Festone in Mash...
Old female brown bear at Okinawa City zoo dies [News]
An old brown bear named Nana in Okinawa Kodomo-no-Kuni Zoo was found dead in her cage on May 8th. Officials at the zoo estimated she was 37 years old. She had been in the zoo for ...
Drunk U.S. serviceman crashes into taxi in Okinawa City [News]
A 22-year-old U.S. Army serviceman stationed on Kadena Air Base drove his car over the center divider and crashed head on into a taxi on the oncoming lane on Route 330 in Yamazato ...
Drunk American man held for trespassing in Urasoe [News]
Urasoe Police arrested a 21-year-old man claiming to be a U.S. Marine on suspicion of trespassing into a private house in Urasoe. According to Urasoe Police they arrested Brian Don...
Kiteboarding provides plenty of excitement, satisfaction [Sports]
By David Higgins When I first heard about kiteboarding, I didn’t like the sound of it. My first impression was that it was going to quickly become another fad sport; attempting to ...
Mini-playoff win lets Golden Kings escape to play again [Ryukyu Golden Kings]
The Ryukyu Golden Kings are headed to the second round of the Basketball Japan League playoffs, but only after sweating past a first game loss, a second game win and then a playoff...