Tag - okinawa

 
 

OKINAWA

The Henoko coastal district in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2024
Okinawa governor's camp fails to secure majority in assembly poll
The tough election result is seen forcing the Okinawa governor to face difficulties managing the prefectural administration.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting of the country's Politburo at an undisclosed location on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC
May 28, 2024
North Korea says its latest satellite launch exploded in flight
North Korea said its attempt to launch a new military reconnaissance satellite ended in failure on Monday when a newly developed rocket engine exploded in flight.
Carpenters and others in traditional attire perform a ritual in Naha on Monday to mark the completion of the framework of Shuri Castle's main hall.
JAPAN
May 27, 2024
Ceremony held for restoration of Shuri Castle in Okinawa
Carpenters and others dressed in traditional attire performed a ritual to mark the installation of the ridge beam on the roof.
Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on.
PODCAST / deep dive
May 23, 2024
What does climate change sound like in Okinawa?
This week, Japan Times climate editor Chris Russell joins us to discuss what researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology are listening to.
Akira Miyagi (center) and other members of Japanese-Brazilians with ties to Okinawa Prefecture hold a news conference in Sao Paulo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
May 23, 2024
Brazil to mull apology for persecution of Japanese immigrants
If the federal government apologizes, it will be its first over the country's treatment of Japanese immigrants.
Toyama Gov. Hachiro Nitta speaks during an interview in Beijing last week.
JAPAN
May 21, 2024
Amid chilled national ties, regional Japan and China exchanges continue
According to a Japanese source based in China, about 60 governors and mayors from Japan visited China in the previous fiscal year, which ended in March.
Coffee trees in the Izumi district of Motobu, Okinawa Prefecture
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Okinawa
May 20, 2024
New study finds Japan’s coffee cultivation has roots in Okinawa
Farmers in Okinawa hope the discovery will serve as a catalyst for boosting coffee production in the prefecture.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel meets with members of the Self-Defense Forces stationed on Yonaguni, Okinawa Prefecture, on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 17, 2024
U.S. envoy to Japan makes landmark visit to front-line island near Taiwan
Rahm Emanuel is the first U.S. ambassador to travel to the far-flung Japanese island, which is home to a Ground Self-Defense Force base and is just 160 km from Taipei.
Much like other hot spots across Okinawa, Onna has diligently strived to captivate both domestic and international tourists, while at the same time grappling with the environmental strain induced by the influx of visitors.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability / OUR PLANET
May 5, 2024
As visitors surge, Japan seeks ways to make tourism eco-friendly
A record tourism boom has raised concerns over the enormous stress visitors put on the environment.
An <i>awamori</i> distillery in Okinawa Prefecture. Shipments of the rice spirit in 2023 dropped more than 50% from their peak in 2004.
JAPAN
May 3, 2024
Okinawa's rice spirit industry seeks rebrand amid falling shipments
Producers are seeking to devise new marketing strategies to make awamori appealing to both young consumers and international markets.
Artist Mitsuo Miyagi talks about the plan to make a giant shiisā statue in Okinawa Prefecture using damaged tiles from the fire-ravaged Shuri Castle.
JAPAN
May 2, 2024
10-meter lion statue to be built in Okinawa with burned Shuri Castle tiles
The project aims to foster remembrance of the castle, which suffered significant damage in a fire in October 2019, using the prefecture's mythical symbol.
The mercury hit 25 degrees Celsius in Tokyo on April 25.
JAPAN
May 2, 2024
Climate change, El Nino factor into Japan’s warmest April in 130 years
The weather agency said the average temperature for April was 2.76 degrees Celsius higher than the average year, making it the hottest April nationwide.
Hikaru Sasaki enters the Metropolitan Police Department's Osaki police station in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward on Monday after being arrested over suspected involvement in the torching of the two bodies found in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, earlier this month.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 30, 2024
Another possible suspect emerges in case of torched Tochigi bodies
Police are investigating whether another figure gave orders to the man to dispose of the bodies.
Hikaru Sasaki enters the Metropolitan Police Department's Osaki police station in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward on Monday after being arrested on suspicion of disposing of two bodies found in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, earlier this month.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 29, 2024
Man, 28, arrested in Okinawa over burned bodies found in Tochigi
The man is an acquaintance of the construction worker who earlier turned himself to the police over his possible involvement in the case.
A Japan Coast Guard vessel sails near one of the disputed East China Sea islands that Japan calls the Senkakus and China calls Diaoyu, in August 2013.
JAPAN
Apr 28, 2024
China confronts Japanese politicians visiting near disputed East China Sea islets
The Japanese group, including former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, was on an inspection mission organized by the city of Ishigaki, in Okinawa Prefecture.
The city government of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, has conducted its third marine survey around the Senkaku Islands.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 28, 2024
Okinawa's Ishigaki uses drone for first time during marine survey around Senkakus
During the survey, China Coast Guard vessels entered Japanese waters around the islands and attempted to interfere with the city's ship.
A portrait of the 13th Ryukyu King Sho Kei, which was returned to the Okinawa Prefectural Government from the United States
JAPAN / History / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Apr 22, 2024
Artifacts missing after Battle of Okinawa returned from U.S.
Items that include portraits of kings from the Ryukyu Kingdom have returned after going missing in 1945.
Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on.
ENVIRONMENT / Wildlife / OUR PLANET
Apr 21, 2024
Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird call at a time
From Okinawa to Australia, “passive acoustic monitoring” projects are feeding scientists with data about changes to ecosystems and biodiversity.
Residents of Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, hold a rally in the city on March 20 to oppose the construction of a Ground Self-Defense Force training ground.
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2024
Japan scraps plan for new GSDF training ground in Okinawa
Locals were opposing the plan because the site is close to a residential area.
People ride motorcycles near the site where a building collapsed, following the earthquake, in Hualien, Taiwan, on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 4, 2024
Taiwan's strongest quake in 25 years kills at least nine, injures over 1,000
Scores of emergency workers were trying to shore up damaged buildings and demolish those deemed impossible to save.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?