NEWSWORTHY
Mayor blasts Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki as Ginowan city abstains from vote on Henoko land reclamation
Amid long-standing political wrangling over construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa, the mayor of the city of Ginowan in the prefecture has said the municipality will not participate in a prefectural referendum set to be held over reclamation of land in order ...
Three Okinawa city assemblies vote against referendum-related budgets
The assemblies of three cities in Okinawa Prefecture on Thursday voted down their respective draft supplementary budgets including funds to cover costs for administrative work related to a planned prefectural referendum on a U.S. base relocation plan. The three cities are Ginowan, Okinawa and Uruma. ...
Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya indicated Friday that the return of land occupied by a key U.S. military base in Okinawa will likely not be realized by fiscal 2022, despite the start the same day of full-fledged land reclamation work to build its replacement facility. "It ...
Namie Amuro fans flock to tribute events as Japanese diva says farewell to show business
On Sunday fans across the country flocked to events paying tribute to pop diva Namie Amuro, marking the day she will step out of the spotlight. In her home prefecture of Okinawa, thousands of fans gathered in Ginowan to attend events commemorating the end of ...
Pop star Namie Amuro bows out with final performance in Okinawa
Pop star Namie Amuro delivered her final stage performance Sunday as fans from Japan and elsewhere in Asia flocked to Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to bid her farewell. Amuro — who has achieved milestones in Japan's pop music scene since the 1990s as a singer, dancer ...
Voters in 25 Okinawan cities, towns and villages went to the polls Sunday in key local municipal assembly elections ahead of the Sept. 30 gubernatorial election. In Nago, whether to oppose or agree to the construction of a replacement facility for the U.S. Marine Corps ...
Metal window frame from U.S. military helicopter falls on elementary school grounds in Okinawa
A metal window frame fell off a U.S. military transport helicopter and onto the grounds of an elementary school in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on Wednesday, triggering renewed anger and concerns in the municipality where a key U.S. air base is located. A student was slightly ...
Ginowan residents lose suit against block on transfer of Futenma base
A district court in Okinawa Prefecture dismissed on Tuesday a lawsuit filed by citizens of Ginowan, current host of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, against Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga's decision to block the base's relocation within the prefecture. In the suit filed with the ...
Henoko protesters begin three days of marches in Okinawa to mark anniversary
Protesters in Okinawa marched on Friday, calling for a halt to the controversial construction of a new U.S. military facility. Sunday marks the 44th anniversary of the prefecture's reversion from American control. Around 700 people, including representatives of civil groups and labor unions, gathered on ...
Okinawa protesters call for return of Futenma 20 years after pact was reached
About 200 people in Okinawa rallied Sunday to push for the early return of land occupied by the Futenma military base ahead of the 20th anniversary of the bilateral accord on returning it to Japanese control. The protesters gathered near U.S. Marine Corps Air Station ...
Ginowan mayor wants to lobby for base closure in Washington
Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima hopes to visit Washington D.C. as early as April to press his case for closing U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma as early as possible. Sakima won re-election last month with the support of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Details of the visit, ...
Ginowan mayoral victory gives Abe much-needed ammunition in Futenma battle
Top government officials in Tokyo welcome the victory by the ruling bloc-backed candidate in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture's mayoral election, saying it will give momentum to the Futenma base relocation.
