January 29, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
Miyako-jima – On January 28, the city of Miyako-jima confirmed 35 new cases of Covid-19 in one day, a record high. Recently, every day has set a new record for the highest number of new cases in a day. Residents’ worry is obvious. “At this point, it isn’t a spread of infections, it’s an explosion of infections,” one said. Another commented, “It’s as though the entire island has been blanketed with coronavirus.” Public buildings and parks have been closed. Schools are closed. Restaurants are closed, transforming the liveliest main streets on the island into shuttered streets.
At 8 p.m. on January 28, the main street of Nishizato, Hirara in Miyako-jima was silent. The street, which is lined with souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants, is normally lively with tourists and local customers. However, on this day, the street was deserted. Most businesses had lowered their shutters and hung signs saying “closed.”
January 22, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 18, the Okinawa Environmental Preservation Division announced the results of the summer water quality survey that was conducted last September in the areas surrounding U.S. military bases to assess organic fluorine compound (PFAS) contamination. The use and manufacture of PFOS and PFOA are regulated around the world. In residential groundwater in the area around Kadena Air Base, PFOS and PFOA were detected at a combined concentration of 3000 nanograms per liter. This concentration is 60 times the provisional guidance value (50 nanograms per liter) set by the Ministry of the Environment and the highest level recorded since the survey was first conducted in 2016. In the area around Futenma Air Station, as well, the chemicals were detected at a concentration of 2000 nanograms per liter in the natural spring Majikina Ga in Ginowan City. This is also a record high for the area.
Cases in Okinawa Surge: “500-800 new cases per week going forward” predicted, hospital bed utilization exceeds 100% in Chubu, Main Island
Governor Denny Tamaki asks Okinawans for additional cooperation with measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. (January 14, Prefectural Office, photograph by a representative)
January 15, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 14, Governor Denny Tamaki held an emergency press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office. He shared that cases of the novel coronavirus in Okinawa are increasing, mostly in young people, and that estimates suggest that the prefecture is likely to see 500 to 800 new cases per week going forward. Furthermore, general hospital bed utilization has exceeded 100% in Chubu on the Main Island, where coronavirus patients are being admitted. The governor asked that people refrain from non-essential, non-urgent travel between Okinawa and the prefectures included in the national state of emergency announcement, bo
Peace Prayer Statue cleaned as prayer for peaceful New Yea in Itoman
Staff members clean dust from the Okinawa Peace Prayer Statue (December 16, the Okinawa Peace Hall in Mabuni, Itoman)
December 17, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Itoman – On December 16, the Okinawa Peace Prayer Statue at the Okinawa Peace Hall in Mabuni, Itoman, was wiped clean of dust as part of a “cleansing” in preparation for the new year. In a normal year, around 20 people including bus tour guides would participate in removing dust from the statue. However, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, only seven staff members from the Okinawa Foundation participated this year. The workers offered a moment of silence to pray for peace and wiped dust from every nook and cranny of the statue.
Professor Yasukatsu Matsushima of Ryukoku University presents a statement virtually.
December 2, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
On December 1, Professor Yasukatsu Matsushima of Ryukoku University presented a statement before the United Nations. In the statement, he sought the repatriation of ancestral remains removed from Okinawa in 1928-1929 by researchers at the former Imperial Universities. These remains have not yet been returned.
Matsushima presented virtually at meeting of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held in Geneva, Switzerland. He presented as a joint representative of Nirai Kanai nu Kai, an Okinawan citizen’s group that is active in efforts to repatriate ancestral remains.