The Okinawa Woodpecker (Dendrocopos noguchii) is one of the rarest and most range-restricted woodpeckers in the world, with an estimated 100–300 individuals. It lives only in the subtropical forests of Okinawa Island.

Hey, my workplace - #OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology) - started a Bluesky account the other day, and now they enabled the bridge to Mastodon too! Check them out here (perhaps paste "@oistedu.bsky.social @bsky.brid.gy" without the space into your search bar (edit: the link below works fine (parentheses are fun! (really!)))):

@oistedu.bsky.social

Many war orphans in Okinawa suffered from harsh living conditions and overwhelming loneliness, and the trauma they carried still lingers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/14/japan/okinawa-war-orphans/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #okinawa #wwii #battleofokinawa #socialwelfare #children

https://www.alojapan.com/1246353/break-a-sweat-on-the-stairway-to-heaven-near-camp-foster-okinawa/ Break a sweat on the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ near Camp Foster, Okinawa #CampFoster #news #Okinawa #OkinawaFoster #OkinawaNews #stairs #StairwayToHeaven #沖縄 One day in mid-October, I climbed the “Stairway to Heaven”, a long series of stairs that run up a hill north of Camp Foster. The location borders the west end of Plaza Housing Area and is a great place for some cardio. It had been a while since my coworker had told me about this …

Japanese and U.S. officials said Friday they will jointly conduct a patrol in Okinawa Prefecture following sexual assault cases involving U.S. servicemen. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/11/japan/joint-patrol-okinawa-assualts/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #us #okinawa #rape

The U.S. military will deploy several long-range surveillance drones to Japan’s far-flung southwestern islands area near Taiwan, as the allies seek to counter China’s ramped-up drone presence in the same area. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/08/japan/us-triton-drones-okinawa/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #us #usmilitary #drones #okinawa #taiwan #china #pla #defense #usbases

https://www.alojapan.com/1239523/80-years-after-battle-of-okinawa-bones-are-still-being-discovered/ 80 years after Battle of Okinawa bones are still being discovered #bones #Japan #military #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #UnitedStates #veterans #war #WorldNews #WorldWarIi #沖縄 The World War II Battle of Okinawa left an estimated 240,000 people killed or missing — and 80 years later, their bones are still being unearthed by dedicated volunteers. Japan’s southernmost prefecture was plagued by one of war’s most deadly battles, which lasted from Ap…

Some 100 people mourned those who committed mass suicide at a cave in Okinawa Prefecture 80 years ago in the final stages of World War II. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/06/japan/wwii-mass-suicide-mourned-okinawa/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #okinawa #wwii

Enhypen has a special edition soda in Japan. #okinawa

Eighty years after the Battle of Okinawa, the largest ground battle fought on Japanese soil during World War II, the threat of unexploded ordnance still looms over the island. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/04/japan/bomb-disposal-80-years-wwii/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #wwii #okinawa #usmilitary #sdf

https://www.alojapan.com/1236397/japan-issues-megaquake-warning-but-many-travellers-from-hong-kong-undeterred/ Japan issues megaquake warning, but many travellers from Hong Kong undeterred #DominicKwok #Japan #JapanTrips #JapaneseCabinetOffice #JapaneseMeteorologicalAuthorities #Korea #Malaysia #Megaquake #myanmar #NankaiTrough #Okinawa #PaulLawSiuHung #ShakotanEarthquake #SunflowerTravelServices #tibet #Tokyo #trips Some Hongkongers have cancelled their trips to Japan following a new megaquake warning issued by the country’s authorities, while others…

ICYMI: Underwater Wonderland: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium's Kuroshio Sea

This mesmerizing hour-long #video of whale sharks and manta rays gliding through an enormous 2-million-gallon tank is a window into the #ocean's incredible diversity.

Learn more: https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/one-hour-with-okinawa-churaumi-aquariums-kuroshio-sea

Blue Turtle Flyby © 沖縄 カメラマン

via pangeen

#video
#Okinawa
#turtles

Underwater Wonderland: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium's Kuroshio Sea

This mesmerizing hour-long #video of whale sharks and manta rays gliding through an enormous 2-million-gallon tank is a window into the #ocean's incredible diversity.

Learn more:
https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/one-hour-with-okinawa-churaumi-aquariums-kuroshio-sea

https://www.alojapan.com/1230635/japan-draws-up-plan-to-evacuate-120000-from-isles-near-taiwan/ Japan draws up plan to evacuate 120,000 from isles near Taiwan #AsahiShimbun #Japan #NationalReport #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #沖縄 The government unveiled its plan to evacuate tens of thousands of people from remote islands near Taiwan in case China acts on its oft-repeated threat to invade the island territory. The plan released on March 27 would entail evacuating 120,000 residents and tourists from five municipalities in the Sakishima Isla…

The government published on Thursday an evacuation plan for the roughly 120,000 people on remote southwestern islands, drawn up with a possible conflict over Taiwan in mind. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/28/japan/politics/taiwan-evacuation-plan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #taiwan #okinawa #sdf #defense

https://www.alojapan.com/1228813/japanese-specialists-detonate-wwii-era-bombs-discovered-on-okinawa-island/ Japanese specialists detonate WWII-era bombs discovered on Okinawa island #Okinawa #OkinawaTopics #沖縄 Japanese authorities detonated three World War II-era shells on Tsuken Island, Okinawa prefecture, June 6, 2024. (Uruma City) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Japanese authorities recently detonated three explosive shells believed to be left over from World War II on an island just southeast of Naval Base White Beach. The ordnance was discovered April…

https://www.alojapan.com/1228388/on-okinawas-tokashiki-island-lifes-a-beach-one-of-the-best-in-the-world/ On Okinawa’s Tokashiki Island, life’s a beach — one of the best in the world #beaches #Okinawa #OkinawaTopics #RyukyuKingdom #TokashikiIsland #tourism #沖縄 Tokashiki Island, Okinawa Pref. – Rounding a corner on the lilting road that leads from the port in Tokashiki to Aharen Beach — Route 186, bisecting the island of Tokashiki, the largest of the Kerama Islands from northeast-to-southwest — my 50-something driver, Koji Yoshida, not…

https://www.alojapan.com/1227139/appreciating-the-convenience-of-japan-and-koreas-convenience-stores/ Appreciating the convenience of Japan and Korea’s convenience stores #ConvenienceStores #cu #Japan #Korea #Lawson #news #Okinawa #OkinawaNews #沖縄 Lawson (Photo by Luis Samayoa) I’m the type of soldier to always skip the Army chow halls for lunch and dinner. I survived mostly from convenience-store snacks and chicken during my time in South Korea. Now that I live in Japan, I see the similarities and differences between the two country’s conven…