Asahi reported on its projections for the Nago mayoral election to be held on Jan. 23 based on the results of its telephone survey of eligible voters in the city that was conducted jointly with Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting on Sunday and Monday and its own field research in the municipality. The paper wrote that incumbent Mayor Toguchi, who is backed….Read more

Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo reported that in the Yaese mayoral election, incumbent Arakaki, supported by the LDP and Komeito, is expected to be re-elected without a race. 

Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo reported that the Tonaki Village Council unanimously passed a resolution of protest and an opinion letter calling for the urgent inspection of U.S. military helicopters in Okinawa, measures to prevent a recurrence, and an investigation and announcement of the cause of the incident.

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) confirmed there were two China Coast Guard vessels in the contiguous zone outside Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture) on Jan. 17. This was the 21st consecutive day that Chinese government ships were sighted near the Senkakus. According to the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (Naha), the JCG issued a….Read more

Ryukyu Shimpo reported that on Jan 17, Okinawa Regional Customs filed a complaint with the Naha District Court against a 36-year-old female U.S. military contractor from Ginowan City for allegedly attempting to smuggle 2.28 grams of liquid marijuana  from the United States. 

Nago, Okinawa Pref., Jan. 16 (Jiji Press)–The official campaign period started on Sunday for the Jan. 23 mayoral election in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, which will focus on a controversial U.S. base relocation project.   Candidacies were filed by Nago assembly member Yohei Kishimoto, 49, and incumbent Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi, 60, whose term of office is set to end on Feb.….Read more

All national dailies reported on Sunday that the official campaign period for the Nago mayoral election started on Sunday, kicking off an important election year in Okinawa. The race will be between incumbent Mayor Toguchi Taketoyo, who is supported by the ruling LDP and Komeito party, and former Nago assembly member Kishimoto Yohei, who is backed by the Constitutional Democratic….Read more

Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo reported that on Jan. 13, Gov. Tamaki pointed out that the spread of infection in the U.S. military has been affected by a delay in taking action to restrict the activities of U.S. service members. The governor stated that the U.S. military should extend the period of restricted activities, such as the curfew, which was….Read more

Ryukyu Shimpo reported that the Yomitan Village Assembly unanimously passed a protest resolution and an opinion letter against the mass infection of COVID-19 at the U.S. military base at a special meeting on Jan. 13. It calls for outing restrictions on military personnel and contractors, revision of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, and thorough measures to prevent the spread….Read more