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#ryukyu archipelago
yoga-onion · 10 months
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[Photo above: Banyan tree in Shuri Castle Park]
Legends and myths about trees
Forest spirits and natives (5)
Kijimuna – Mischievous red-haired spectres
Kijimuna are legendary small tree spirits from the Okinawa Islands in Japan, who live in trees (generally old banyan trees). They are said to look about 3 or 4 years old and have red hair.
Another name for the kijimuna is bungaya, which means roughly large-headed. The Kijimuna are known to be very mischievous, playing pranks and tricking humans. One of their best-known tricks is to lie upon a person's chest, making them unable to move or breathe such as sleep paralysis. Even though the Kijimuna are tricksters, they have been known to make friends with humans.
They are skilled fish catchers and only eat the left or both eyes of the fish they catch. Therefore, if you become friends with a Kijimuna, you can always get a fish and become rich. They are good at diving and fishing and catch a lot of fish in seconds. But all the fish they catch have no eyes. They can also run around on the water surface and can stand on the water while carrying people.
They are extremely hatred of hot pot lids, octopus, chickens and human farts, and it is forbidden to let them near the Kijimuna. They also die (or are forced to move to another tree), if a nail is driven into the tree in which they live. They will take terrible retribution, including murder, against anyone who breaks these prohibitions.
Nevertheless, as long as one do not break these prohibitions, they are basically harmless to humans, and many lores say that they are "good neighbours" with humans.
[History of Ryukyu Islands (collective name for Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Archipelago and Yaeyama Archipelago)]
The Ryukyu Islands are known to have been inhabited by humans for about 32,000 years.
The Ryukyu Kingdom was a monarchy, existed in the southwestern islands of Japan for about 450 years, from 15th century to 19th century. It developed through diplomacy and trade with China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asian countries, and the castle of the Ryukyu dynasty, Shuri Castle, was the political, economic and cultural centre of its maritime kingdom. In the late 19th century, the Japanese Government, dispatched troops to oust King Shoutai from Shuri Castle and proclaimed the establishment of Okinawa Prefecture (Ryukyu Disposition). Here, the Ryukyu Kingdom was destroyed.
Genetic studies have shown that populations in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa Islands, Miyako Archipelago and Yaeyama Archipelago) have no direct genetic link to mainland China or Taiwanese populations and have identical paternal lines to mainland Japan, and nuclear DNA analysis in 2018 showed that genetically, Ryukyuans are the most closely related, followed by mainland Japanese, from the Ainu (Ref) perspective.
Furthermore, in 2021, a paper on archaeogenetics published in the journal Nature stated that DNA analysis of prehistoric human bones excavated from the Nagabaka (lit. Long graveyard) site in Miyakojima City showed that they were "100% pure Jomon", a research finding that indicates that prehistoric archipelago people came from the Okinawa Islands.
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木にまつわる伝説・神話
森の精霊たちと原住民 (5)
キジムナー 〜 いたずら好きな赤毛の妖怪たち
キジムナーは、日本の沖縄諸島に伝わる伝説の小さな木の精霊で、樹木 (一般的にはガジュマルの老木) の中に住んでいる。見た目は3、4歳くらいで、赤い髪をしていると言われている。
キジムナーの別名は「ブンガヤ」であり、「頭の大きい」という意味である。キジムナーは非常にいたずら好きで、いたずらをして人間をだますことで知られている。最もよく知られているのは、人の胸の上に横たわり、身動きや呼吸をできなくさせる「金縛り」だ。そんなキジムナーだが、人間と仲良くなることもある。
魚捕りが巧みであり、しかも捕った魚の左目または両目だけしか食べない。その為、キジムナーと仲良くなれば魚をいつでも貰え、漁運に恵まれる。海に潜って漁をするのが得意であっという間に多くの魚を獲る。でも、彼らが獲った魚は全部目が無い。また、水面を駆け回ることができ、人を連れながらでも水上に立てる。
熱い鍋蓋、タコ、ニワトリ、人間のおならを極端に嫌い、それらのものをキジムナーに近付けるのは禁忌である。また住んでいる木に釘を打たれると死ぬ (或いは別の木への転居を余儀なくされるとも)。これらの禁忌を破った人間に対しては、殺害を含む恐ろしい報復を為す事も辞さない。
然し、禁忌さえ破らなければ基本的に人間には無害な存在であり、人間とは「良き隣人」であると言う伝承が多い。
[琉球諸島 (奄美群島、沖縄諸島、宮古列島、八重山列島の総称) の歴史]
琉球諸島には、約3万2千年前から人類が住んでいたことがわかっている。
15世紀から19世紀までの約450年間、日本の南西諸島に存在した君主制国家、琉球王国は、中国をはじめ日本、朝鮮、東南アジア諸国との外交・貿易を通して発展し、琉球王朝の王城、首里城はその海洋王国の政治・経済・文化の中心にあった。しかし、19世紀後半、日本政府が軍隊を派遣し首里城から国王尚泰 (しょうたい) を追放し沖縄県の設置を宣言した(琉球処分)。これによって、琉球王国は滅亡した。
遺伝子研究では、琉球列島 (沖縄諸島、宮古列島、八重山列島) の集団は、遺伝的に中国本土や台湾の集団との直接的なつながりはなく、日本本土と同一の父系を持つという研究結果や、2018年の核DNA分析から遺伝的に、アイヌ(参照)から見て琉球人が最も近縁であり、次いで日本本土人が近縁であるという研究結果が発表されている。
さらに、2021年には、宮古島市の長墓遺跡から出土した先史時代の人骨をDNA分析した結果、「100%純粋な縄文人」であったとする考古遺伝学の論文が雑誌「ネイチャー」に掲載され、先史時代の列島人が沖縄諸島から来たことを示す研究結果が発表されている。
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columbidaecontest · 11 months
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[ID: two drawings. the first is of a bonin wood pigeon. pale-coloured with purple and black on it's wings and tails. sits on a branch. the second is a stamp, of a ryukyu wood pigeon siting on a branch next to some flowers. it is mostly black/dark green, with red, purple and white on it's neck]
As the last 2 pigeons leave the stage, the stage remains empty… No new pigeons come up to take their place. has something happened? are they running late? No! all at once a strange chill fills the room fill the room and bubbles start to rise from the floor. with a flourish, two ghosts appear!
The Bonin wood pigeon went extinct due to a combination combination of hunting, deforestation, and invasive cats and rats. It was confirmed extinct in the spring of 1889. It was found only on a few islands south of Japan and seemed rare even when it was alive.
The Ryukyu wood pigeon Lived in laurel forest In the Okinawa archipelago. The species was last seen in around 1936 and it has never Been seen again. Despite extreme habitat destruction, theoretically there are still islands with enough forest for the bird to survive, however it is extremely unlikely that it would not have been sighted since then, even though it may be strange that it appears to have completely disappeared from the few islands that still have mostly intact forest cover.
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kemetic-dreams · 9 months
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How many ethnicities are in Nipon(japan)?
Yamato Japanese 123,900,000
Ryukyuan Japanese1,300,000
Chinese 650,000
Korean 525,000
The Yamato people (大和民族, Yamato minzoku, literally "Yamato ethnicity") or the Wajin (和人, Wajin, 倭, literally "Wa people") is a term to describe the ethnic group that comprises over 98% of the population of Japan. Genetic and anthropometric studies has showed that the Yamato are an admixture of the migratory Kofun and Yayoi, who arrived from mainland East and Southeast Asia via the Korean Peninsula, as well as the indigenous Jōmon that were already living on the Japanese archipelago for thousands of years prior.
It can also refer to the first people that settled in Yamato Province (modern-day Nara Prefecture). Generations of Japanese historians, linguists, and archeologists have debated whether the word is related to the earlier Yamatai (邪馬臺). The Yamato clan set up Japan's first and only dynasty. The clan became the ruling faction in the area, and incorporated native Japanese, Chinese and Korean migrants. The clan leaders also elevated their own belief system that featured ancestor worship into a national religion known as Shinto.
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The Ryukyuan people (Okinawan: 琉球民族 (るーちゅーみんずく), romanized: Ruuchuu minzuku or どぅーちゅーみんずく, Duuchuu minzuku, Japanese: 琉球民族/りゅうきゅうみんぞく, romanized: Ryūkyū minzoku, also Lewchewan or Loochooan)[8] are a Japonic-speaking East Asianethnic group native to the Ryukyu Islands, which stretch between the islands of Kyushu and Taiwan.[9] Administratively, they live in either the Okinawa Prefecture or the Kagoshima Prefecture within Japan. They speak one of the Ryukyuan languages, considered to be one of the two branches of the Japonic language family, the other being Japanese and its dialects. Hachijō is sometimes considered by linguists to constitute a third branch
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softsoundingsea · 1 month
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Thinking more about how the Ryukyuan archipelago is more like many ethnic-cultural groups with similar histories rather than one ethnicity. There's no perfect word but I appreciate that for now, Shimanchu has been used more frequently in place of Okinawan.
As a marginalized group within the sphere of Japan, I feel that we often lean towards seeing our own history through a rose-tinted glass. But the history of our place and space is complicated and the Ryukyuan Kingdom had acts of colonization to islands outside of Uchinaa.
I do find it frustrating that Uchinaaguchi is often referred to as “the Okinawan language” when Shimayumuta, Yambaru-Kutuba, Myaakufutsu, Yaimamuni, Shikamuni, Mēramuni, Teedanmuni, and Dunanmunui also exist? And in contemporary times, what does Uchinaaguchi standardization mean?
I can't speak to how it is in the islands but in the diaspora, I do feel that [we] Uchinaanchu don't really give as much space or conversation to other islands or don't acknowledge how Loochoo/Ryukyu/Uchinaanchu is not an identity that is accepted-used across our archipelago.
I am still in the process of learning and I am grateful to those within the community for sharing their truths, struggles and thoughts in language, identity, and history.
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bluelightning42 · 9 months
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Sharing some pictures from my Japanese sea creature book since I'm still thinking about the shark post.
Translation under read more (very long!)
From top left to bottom right:
Kitefin Shark(armor shark) (order: Squaliformes family: Dalatiidae)
Tough skin covers its entire body, which is why it's named "armor". It is probably the biggest vertebrae in the world to have bioluminescent organs on its abdomen. The purpose of the bioluminescent organs and detailed ecology is not clear.
-180cm
-eats small seafloor creatures and small sized sharks
-depth of 1800m on the seafloor of the continental slope
-found in South Ibaraki prefecture Pacific Ocean side, East China Sea/Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
Kitefin shark teeth: The top teeth are small with sharp points. The bottom ones are triangular.
Leafscale Gulper Shark(order: Squaliformes family: Centrophoridae)
Out of all sharks, Centrophoridae live in the deepest parts of the ocean. Its entire body is a blackish brown, Its body covered in hard leaf-shaped scales. It has a long lifespan, and is thought to reproduce every 20~40 years.
-160cm
-eats seafloor creatures and small-sized sharks
-depth of 2400m on the floor of the continental shelf
-found on the Pacific Ocean side of southern Japan, East China Sea/South Pacific Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean
Birdbeak Dogfish (order: Squaliformes family: Centrophoridae)
Its entire body is gray, and the front of its head is flat. Its distinct feature is its elongated spatula shape.
-180cm
-Eats seafloor creatures and small-sized sharks
-Depth of 1400m along the seafloor of the continental slope
-Found around: South Chiba prefecture Pacific Ocean, East China Sea/Pacific Ocean, Atlantic ocean
It has one gently sloped back fin.
Slendertail Lanternshark(order: Squaliformes family: Etmopteridae)
It has bio-luminescent organs on its body, and its belly, dorsal fin, and base of the tail are especially bright. It's thought that the light has various purposes.
-50cm
-eats seafloor creatures and small-sized sharks
-Found at a depth of 200-900m (mainly around 300-600) on the floor of the continental slope.
-Found in the Pacific Ocean along south Sagami bay, and East China Sea/South Pacific Ocean side.
Smallfin gulper shark(order: Squaliformes family: Centrophoridae)
It has a big liver that makes up 1/4th of its body weight. The oil in the liver is used to make cosmetics.
-100cm
-Eats seafloor creatures and small-sized sharks.
-Found mainly around 800m on the seafloor of the continental slope.
-Found around the Ryukyu Islands, Ogasa archipelago, East China Sea/ South Pacific Ocean.
Used in cosmetic products and health foods.
The Blackbelly Lanternshark's Light
A relative of the lanternshark, its small body is bioluminescent. It's a very weak light that barely shines in the deep sea, and it uses this to hide itself.
The first photograph in the world of a lit up lanternshark. (photograph sponsor: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)
Relations of the Sandbar Shark
The sandbar shark is one type of many deep sea shark family. Among them particularly, the spatula-snout cat-shark has recently become a family independent of the cloudy catshark.
Longnose sawtail cat sharks are normally motionless on the sea floor. When they smell prey they will actively search for it.
Longnose sawtail catshark (Order:Carcharhiniformes Family:Scyliorhinidae)
This species was discovered in Japan in 1987. The head in front of the eyes is pointed, and the scales of its main tail fin on the back side run in a line.
-80cm
-eats seafloor creature and small sized shark species
-found at a depth of 300-500m on the continental shelf sea-floor, found mainly along the coast of the Ryuukyuu Islands.
Salamander Shark(order: Carcharhiniformesfamily:Scyliorhinidae)
Its entire body is short and stout, and with the buoyancy from its liver it swims slowly along the sea floor. The muscles above and below its eyes are developed and the eyelids can be closed.
-70 cm
-eats sea floor creature and small shark species
-found at a depth of 200-600m (mainly 300-500) on the continental shelf sea floor
-found in the Pacific Ocean side of south Japan, and East China Sea.
The back of its body has a rich color, its stomach is paleish.
Longfin Catshark (order: Carcharhiniformes family:Scyliorhinidae)
Its entire head is long, with the front shaped like a spatula. Its English name is the Pinocchio catshark. Its body is narrow and snakelike and it wriggles as it swims.
-50 cm
- eats seafloor creature and small-sized shark
-found at a depth of 500-900m on the seafloor of the continental slope
-found around the Pacific Ocean side of southern Japan/East China Sea, and the Philippines.
Flathead Catshark (order: Carcharhiniformes family:Scyliorhinidae)
Its head is long and flat, and it searches the ocean floor for small creatures with radar called Ampullae of Lorenzini. It swims along the sea floor by wiggling its narrow body.
-70cm
- eats seafloor creature and small-sized shark species
-depth of 300-500m on the seafloor of the continental slope.
-found around Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay along the coast of southern Japan.
False Catshark (order: Carcharhiniformes family:Pseudotriakidae)
It has small teeth and is thought to eat types of small fish and crustaceans. It is said that baby sharks will eat the other eggs while growing in the mother's body. There are still many unknowns about this shark.
-3m
-eats seafloor creature and small sized sharks
-depth of 200-1000m (mainly 300-800) on the floor of the continental slope.
-Located around the south bay of Suruga Pacific Ocean side, East Chine Sea/west, and mid-Atlantic Ocean.
Can deep sea sharks be bred?
Deep sea shark breeding is very difficult since the body's cells change with the sudden water pressure difference. In the backroom of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, there is a large pressurized tank that can apply high water pressure. Breeding the deep sea sharks is attempted by putting the collected sharks in high pressure tanks and increasing the pressure a little at a time until it's equal with pressure above ground.
The breeding and display of various deep sea fish is possible because of the pressurized water.
Goblin Shark (Order: Lamniformes family:Mitsukurinidae)
Protruding out of the top and bottom of the jaw, sharp pointed teeth bite prey. The English name is Goblin Shark, meaning "unattractive shark".
-3.9 m
-eats seafloor creature, fish species,
-found at a depth of 100-1300m (generally 300-1000m).
-Found around the seafloor of the continental slope, Pacific Ocean of southern Japan, Toyama Bay/ south-eastern part of Australia, South Africa, Portugal, Suriname.
How the goblin shark catches prey
A picture of a CT scan of the bones in a goblin shark's head. The lower jaw protrudes greatly. Front view of the jaw.
The goblin shark catches prey by opening its jaw widely and vigorously extending it forward.
The lower jaw leaps forward quickly at about 3m per second, making it the fastest of all fish species.
Saw Shark(order: Pristiophoriformes family:Pristiophoridae)
The front of the head is extended out on both sides with uneven spikes like a saw. When it catches prey it swings its long head down, stabs the vital part of the prey's body, and brings it down.
-1.5m
-eats seafloor creature, small-sized shark species, depth of 50-600m (mainly 100-500).
-found from the upper part of the continental shelf to the continental slope sea floor.
-Southern part of Hokkaido Pacific Ocean, along the coast of the Sea of Japan, East China Sea/Korean Peninsula~Taiwan
The saw shark can give birth to around 10 pups at once. The baby sharks are born with their spikes folded, but the next day they'll straighten out and look just like their parents.
Salmon shark and saw shark
The salmon shark has a lot of large sized relations, the most famous of them is the great white shark. All of them are viviparous, and the baby sharks are known to eat the other eggs while in the mother's womb. The saw shark's head stretches out in front, and has sharp spines on both sides.
Basking Shark (order: Lamniformes family:Cetorhinidae)
A huge shark that eats plankton and is second to the whale shark in size. In the North Atlantic for 5-7 months, it breeds in large groups.
They are frequently observed to jump above the surface of the ocean.
-10m
-eats zooplankton and small fish
-depth of 0-2000m
-found various places around Japan/temperate zones around the world, and in subarctic seas.
In Ube city, Yamaguchi prefecture, a basking shark was caught in a fishing net. It appears near the surface in cold waters, and at the equator in the tropics it swims in the deep.
Smalltooth Sand Tiger (order: Lamniformes family:Odotaspidiae)
A large deep sea shark distributed throughout the tropics and temperate zones of the world. Only a few have been found, so we don't know how they live.
-3.5m
-eats seafloor creatures and fish
-Found near the continental slope's seafloor, south of Sagamiwan near the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea, throughout the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea.
The center of the teeth have long, venomous spikes.
Dogfish and friends
All the relations of the dogfish are deep-sea dwelling and viviparous. With no anal fin, it has sharp spines in front of the dorsal fin like many other types.
A parasitic coepepod in the eye.
The Lifespan of the Greenland Shark
The growth of the Greenland shark takes many months and years. According to recent research their lifespan is 300-400 years or more. They're the most long-lived vertebrate. It's thought that they reproduce every 150 years or so. If too many are taken they'll probably be extinct soon.
Greenland Shark(order: Squaliformes family: Somniosidae)
It's swimming speed is slow due to its large sized body. It's said that it's the slowest swimming shark in the world. It eats seals and large shark species.
-total size 5m
-eats crustaceans, echinoderms, sharks, and small marine mammals
-depth of 0-3000m (mainly around 200-600m) on the continental slope
-North Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean
Every fin is small, and shaped like a submarine.
Roughskin Dogfish (order: Squaliformes family:Somniosidae)
Hard, sharp scales cover the entire body of this black colored shark. It is said that the name comes from the ability to close its eyelids. (Japanese name Dream Shark)
Distributed broadly throughout the deep sea of southern Japan.
-120cm
-eats small seafloor creature and small sized shark species
-mainly found at a depth of 500~1400m on the seafloor of the continental slope. South of Chiba prefecture on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea/Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean.
Mandarin Dogfish (order: Squaliformes family: Squalidae)
It is the only species of dogfish to have whiskers in front of its nose. Why it has whiskers is not clear.
-120cm
-eats seafloor creatures and small sized sharks
-depth of 150-700m (mainly 200-600m) Seafloor of the continental slope.
-southern Japan along the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea/Taiwan, coast of Indonesia
The tapetum of the Mandarin Dogfish's eyes shine blue when hit by light.
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usafphantom2 · 2 years
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It's good to plan a 'fly zone' over Taiwan soon
Preventing a Chinese invasion depends on air defense, and this starts with four steps.
Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 04/26/22 - 08:28 AM in Military, War Zones
Taiwan is not Ukraine. Yes, it is in a much more vulnerable position. No matter what other idea guides the defense of the island republic, air superiority will be critical. Washington and Taipei must now prepare to ensure this air superiority. And although the discussion of a Ukrainian no-fly zone has given ample space to the military reality, Taiwan's air defense planning must be based on the harsh truth.
Proportionally, Taiwan's airspace is much more difficult to defend than Ukraine's. While Russia must deploy combat power on a 1,400-mile border, China can concentrate tactical air forces in a much smaller area to attack Taiwan.
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By the way, not only half of Taiwan could be defended from the Chinese airstrike. The country is very small and the Taiwanese population lives on the west side of the island. There is no "humanitarian corridor" that can be created in eastern Taiwan. A Taiwanese no-fly zone is actually a no-fly zone over Taiwan - that is, a combat action, whether the US declares it or not as such.
One could not even defend only Taiwan's airspace. Taiwan is an island, separated by thousands of kilometers of open sea from U.S. bases. Your most reasonable supply routes ?? They would cross the Philippine Sea, to the south along the Ryukyus, or north of Luzon. Each area is beyond its territory and its Exclusive Economic Zone. Thus, the supply and logistical aspect of a Taiwanese no-fly zone would mean defending territory beyond Taiwan.
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Given these operational, strategic and geographical realities, four steps are needed to win the air war over Taiwan.
First, the U.S. must ensure its naval and air superiority in the Ryukyu archipelago, between Luzon and Taiwan, and in the Philippine Sea. China is expected to encompass Taiwan from the east and west, probably with an aircraft carrier attack group on one side and a ground air surge on the other. (China's violations of Taiwan's airspace in the last 18 months can be taken as practice for the latter.) The Ryukyus are a reasonable defensive line in the north. The archipelago can be transformed into an anti-aircraft nest, full of U.S. Marines and air defense artillery.
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The Luzon Strait is more difficult to defend and would probably require advanced tactical aviation. More important, however, is the supply route to the Philippine Sea, as China will almost certainly push submarines into the Philippine Sea and the western Pacific. The U.S. must create an anti-submarine trawl with surface ships and other assets, defended by a constant hunting screen. Each Force can play a clear role in this system: the Army in Ryukyus, the Air Force in the Luzon Strait and the Navy in the Philippines.
Secondly, an integrated air defense network is needed to protect Taiwan from the bombing of Chinese missiles. China's missile arsenal is simply too large to be fought with a traditional air defense system. Integration would allow better tracking and prioritization of targets and would allow much more effective layers. If radar fighter and picket data can be merged with air defenses, Taiwan can extend the engagement range of its older ground systems, such as its Patriot surface-to-air missiles, or PAC-2. American interceptors can help, but given the scale of the operational problem, strengthening Taiwan's missile defenses to ensure that they survive an initial bombardment makes more sense.
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Third, the US should get more tankers. A no-fly zone would require air combat over Taiwan and near the Taiwan Strait - that is, extremely close to Chinese territory. U.S. air bases are too far away and the current fleet of tankers is too small to provide refueling that will ensure consistent fighter coverage over Taiwan and the Luzon and Miyako Straits.
Fourthly, the US must start the fight with a significant numerical advantage, or run the risk of deconcentrating over time. Once again, China may concentrate a greater volume of aircraft against Taiwan than Russia against Ukraine, even in the eastern region of the latter. Air combat is a numerical exercise: between equivalent training forces and comparable equipment, quantity provides a decisive advantage that improves with scale. Chinese aircraft can refuel and rearm at bases much closer to the combat zone than their American counterparts.
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Unless the U.S. is willing to attack the Chinese continent - an option that policymakers should consider despite its political aversion to it - the U.S. should expand its tactical air fleet. Maintaining superiority over Taiwan will require 30 or more fighter squadrons, considering the aircraft that the PLA can quickly deploy from the Eastern and Central Theater Commands to the Taiwan Strait. It may require more if PLA performs a larger accumulation. Taiwan has 17 squadrons. Assuming reasonably effective missile defenses, perhaps 12 still fly after the arrival of the first wave of Chinese missiles. This creates a gap of 18 squadrons between Taiwan and China that the U.S. would need to fill. Two U.S. aircraft carriers would provide eight squadrons, while an Expeditionary Attack Group could provide another squadron.
The remaining nine would come from land aviation. The Japanese Air Force tactical aviation available could provide four fighter squadrons and two land-based USMC aviation squadrons. Thus, the U.S. would need to deploy at least three additional fighter squadrons in Japan and probably more, depending on the state of Taiwan's air defenses.
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Winning the air war over Taiwan would be the immediate central concern during a conflict across the Strait. The United States must prepare to fight and win this conflict. You must be prepared to say publicly and before any hostility that winning a conflict over Taiwan is the goal of the US and that, as part of this, the U.S. will impose a no-fly zone on Taiwan.
If we had taken Putin's attacks on other Black Sea targets more seriously, such as Georgia and Crimea, and acted with greater determination years ago to help Ukraine defend itself, the war could have been avoided. The declared intention of Xi Jinping and his predecessors to subdue Taiwan - if necessary, by force - is as clear as the blue sky. These skies must be defended over Taiwan so that the U.S. remains the prominent power of the Pacific and the allies in the region continue betting their fate with the U.S.
Source: Defense One
Tags: Military AviationPLAAF - China Air ForceRoCAF - Republic of China Air Force/Taiwan Air ForceWar Zones - China/Taiwan
Fernando Valduga
Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in a specialized aviation magazine in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.
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Cavok Brasil - Digital Tchê Web Creation
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wuxiaphoenix · 1 year
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Worldbuilding: What Everybody Knows That Isn’t So
Sometimes everyone in a setting “knows” something that turns out to be flat-out wrong. The world is flat, disease is caused only by evil spirits, sacrificing hearts on an obsidian altar keeps the sun in the sky. And sometimes... everyone knows what’s actually true, but upholds a polite fiction in public so no one has to officially notice and do something about it. No one really wants to do all the paperwork to haul in someone going three miles over the speed limit on the highway,
and - very often - no one wants to go to war when trade is much more profitable.
In the 1600s, given trade between China, Japan, the Ryukyu Kingdom, and Korea, this led to the invention of an imaginary country, Tokara.
The Tokara Islands actually exist; twelve small islands in a larger archipelago. Only seven are inhabited today. They have a native pony, and, on two islands, a native pit viper. What they don’t have are a lot of people. But... they existed, and were closer to Japan than Okinawa, which made them convenient for a diplomatic sleight of hand.
Long story short, the Ryukyu Kingdom had been a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty up until about 1609, when the Tokugawa Shogunate invaded and took over. The Tokugawa were not a tributary state of the Ming, very pointedly not. Which made things unexpectedly sticky. First, if the Ming had it rubbed in their faces that a tributary kingdom had been attacked, they’d have to do something about it. Ships, cannons, grand sea battles; very, very expensive to both sides. Second, and maybe worse - if the Ryukyus weren’t a Chinese tributary state anymore, the Ming might cut off trade.
Nobody wanted that.
Obviously face-saving deception had to be the order of the day. Officially, the Ming were not to know the Ryukyu Kingdom didn’t belong to them anymore. Officially, there were no Japanese on the islands. Nope, none, not ever. (They were actually supposed to hide on days the Chinese officials showed up - there were manuals written for it and everything.) And if by some accident someone turned up anyway with a Japanese hairstyle, other odd items, or speaking Japanese? Oh, silly us, that’s a traveler from Tokara! You know, that nation right next door that does a lot of trade with the Japanese, much more than we do? But they’re not Japanese, ha ha, of course not, what would Japanese be doing in the Ryukyus?
(Chinese officials in public: Solemn nod, because Of Course Not. No member of that barbarian nation that didn’t pay tribute to the Heavenly Emperor would dare. Of course not.
(Chinese officials back on the boat: Whew, crisis averted, I really don’t want to lose my head by hinting to the court that we lost control of a tributary kingdom... if the courtiers didn’t get me, the merchants would!)
This apparently kept Europeans believing there actually was a Tokara state until at least the mid-1800s.
I have to admit I find this all amusing in part because I am very bad at tuning in to what “everybody knows”. So this just strikes me as the usual social ridiculousness writ very, very large.
But also in part because this gives me a potentially interesting bit for the isekai, when Jason has to explain where he’s from to anyone who doesn’t know the whole story. He’s a historian with a focus on Early Modern Japan. He would know about Tokara.
So if he goes with “I’m from Tokara”, then anyone in trade or court-associated in Japan, China, or Korea can pigeonhole it into, “Oh, that mess No One Wants To Talk About. Got it. Moving on....”
(Info from various web searches and a very neat bit in Sea Rovers, Silver, and Samurai, edited by Tonio Andrade and Xing Hang.)
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chloeunit6 · 1 month
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Japan's Flora
Agriculture and the introduction of exotic species have displaced most of the indigenous vegetation on the islands. The Ryukyu and Bonin archipelagoes are covered in semitropical rainforest, which contains mulberries, camphor, oaks, and ferns (including tree ferns); madder and lianas may be found with the undergrowth. This sort of plant life is only found in the Amami Islands' lowlands, but it flourishes at higher altitudes to the south.
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The southern coast of Kyushu contains a few mangrove wetlands. The laurel forest zone, which includes evergreen, broad-leaved trees, runs from the southwestern islands to the northern Honshu plains. Camphor, pasanias, Japanese evergreen oaks, camellias, and hollies are common trees, with a variety of ferns as undergrowth. The evergreen zone reaches heights of more than 3,300 feet (1,000 metres) in Kyushu, although its vertical limit falls northeastward throughout Honshu. In general, camphor dominates the coastal lowlands, pasania in sunny and well-drained areas, and Japanese evergreen oak in foggy and overcast inlands. Ficus and fan palm trees grow in the southwestern Hondo area (western Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu). Pine trees dominate the coastal dune system.Natural stands of Japanese cedars, some with trees that are more than 2,000 years old, grow over 2,300 feet (700 metres) on Yaku Island, south of Kyushu.
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Deciduous broad-leaved woods grow in the upper and more northern parts of the laurel forest zone. This type of woodland grows above 3,300 feet on Kyushu, but progressively lowers to sea level in northern Honshu. Its peak elevation is 6,000 feet (1,800 metres) in Shikoku and 5,000 feet (1,500 metres) in central Honshu. Representative trees include beeches, katsura trees, maples, oaks, and birches that rise above a bamboo thicket. All of these trees, but particularly the maples, are appreciated for their stunning autumn hues. The deciduous trees have been replaced by larches, false cypresses, false arborvitaes, Japanese cedars, Japanese red pines, Japanese black pines, and other coniferous species.
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The deciduous zone extends into western Hokkaido, where beeches die on the southwestern peninsula and are replaced by basswoods and maples farther northeast. Some coniferous stands are mixed in with the zone's representative woods. Coniferous trees may be found up to 2,300 feet in elevation in Hokkaido's northern and eastern edge. Sakhalin spruces, Sakhalin firs, blue firs, and Yezo spruces thrive alongside deciduous trees including birches, oaks, and maples, as well as extensive undergrowth of mosses and lichens. Coniferous trees grow with deciduous vegetation in southern Hokkaido and in the higher elevations of central Honshu and Shikoku. Small bushes, creeping pines, and alpine plants thrive at elevations exceeding 8,000 feet (2,400 metres) in central Honshu's high mountain knots. This zone progressively declines northward to the Hakkōda Mountains in northern Honshu (4,600 feet/1,400 metres) and the Daisetsu Mountains in central Hokkaido (3,600 feet/1,100 metres). The cherry tree (sakura), known for its spring flowers and a long-standing emblem of Japan, is planted across the country. Many different types have been cultivated, and there are also wild stands in the highlands. Coniferous trees may be found up to 2,300 feet in elevation in Hokkaido's northern and eastern edge. Sakhalin spruces, Sakhalin firs, blue firs, and Yezo spruces thrive alongside deciduous trees including birches, oaks, and maples, as well as extensive undergrowth of mosses and lichens. Coniferous trees grow with deciduous vegetation in southern Hokkaido and in the higher elevations of central Honshu and Shikoku. Small bushes, creeping pines, and alpine plants thrive at elevations exceeding 8,000 feet (2,400 metres) in central Honshu's high mountain knots. This zone progressively declines northward to the Hakkōda Mountains in northern Honshu (4,600 feet/1,400 metres) and the Daisetsu Mountains in central Hokkaido (3,600 feet/1,100 metres). The cherry tree (sakura), known for its spring flowers and a long-standing emblem of Japan, is planted across the country. Many different types have been cultivated, and there are also wild stands in the highlands.
Havard referencing:
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998). Japan flora. [Online]. britannica. Last Updated: 27 October 2023. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan/Soils [Accessed 21 February 2024].
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freetravelpro · 1 month
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Best Time to Visit Okinawa: A Seasonal Guide
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Settled in the sky blue waters of the East China Sea, Okinawa is an enamoring Japanese prefecture, frequently named the "Hawaii of Japan." Its alluring beaches, diverse culture, and unique climatic seasons have made it an emerging travel hotspot. In this comprehensive guide, we will help you navigate Okinawa's seasonal delights and unveil the best time visit Okinawa to explore this stunning archipelago.
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Understanding Okinawa's Climate
Okinawa's climate is classified as humid subtropical, characterized by long, sweltering summers and mild winters. While it's typically warm year-round, the seasons bring distinct charms, from whale-watching in winter to vibrant hari festivals in spring. The climate in Okinawa can be summarized as follows: - Summers are warm and damp, ideal for marine exercises like plunging and swimming. The typical ocean temperature goes from around 21°C in February to almost 30°C in August. - The stormy season normally ranges from mid-May to late June, with intermittent unexpected showers yet seldom an entire day of downpour. - Typhoons are a concern between June and September, necessitating flexibility in your travel itinerary. Spring (March–May) March:  As spring blooms in Okinawa, visitors can revel in the pleasant weather. Expect warm days with cooler evenings, providing an ideal backdrop for outdoor activities. This is the season when the island's famous resort beaches open, setting the stage for sun-drenched days by the crystal-clear waters. Don't miss the Higashi Village Azalea Festival, where over 50,000 azaleas in various shades await your admiration. The festival features a mesmerizing pottery bazaar at the All-Okinawa Yachimun Pottery Market. April:  April marks the beginning of the island's excitement. Beaches come to life, drawing travelers with the promise of vibrant marine sports like paddleboarding and parasailing. Nights bring enchanting experiences like firefly watching. Be prepared for the "shimi" ritual, where locals honor their ancestors by visiting graveyards, making some roads busier than usual. This month also ushers in the Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks Festival and the Okinawa International Movie Festival, promising dazzling night skies and memorable movie screenings. May:  May in Okinawa offers thrilling dragon boat racing and nature adventures under the moonlight. The Okuyambaru Carp Streamer Festival, with its flying carp streamers and traditional singing and dancing events, is a must-see. Additionally, the Naha Hari festival, the largest of all dragon boat festivals in Okinawa, beckons with races, delightful boats, fireworks, food, and vibrant celebrations. Summer (June–August) June:  While June in Okinawa generally escapes the peak tourist season, it's essential to plan around Golden Week. The month offers culture-themed festivals and nighttime jungle tours that are as enchanting as they sound. The island also hosts the Naha Hari festival, a thrilling celebration of dragon boat races, singing, and dancing. Explore museums, shop for local crafts, or participate in Okinawan dyeing workshops to learn the intricate art of bingata. July: Summer in Okinawa means fireworks, summer festivals, and beachside adventures. Diving, snorkeling, and other marine activities become exceptionally enjoyable thanks to the warm waters. The Ocean Expo Park Summer Festival, boasting over 10,000 fireworks, is a dazzling spectacle not to be missed. Immerse yourself in the Festival of the Southern Island Stars, celebrating summer nights with joyous events. August:  Explore the islands, indulge in traditional dance performances, and refresh in the crystalline waters during the warm August days. This month also marks the Itoman Great Tug-of-War contest, a thrilling competition you can join. Celebrating diversity, Pink Dot Okinawa promotes solidarity within the Okinawa LGBTQ+ community through dance and music events.
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Autumn (September–November) September:  Autumn in Okinawa provides an opportunity for late-summer getaways. Beaches remain inviting, offering a splendid backdrop for cultural activities and outdoor adventures. The captivating Tanadui Festival, featuring traditional arts performances, stands out as an "Intangible Folk Cultural Property" of Japan. Conclude the season with the Shichi Festival, featuring stick fights, lion dances, and an abundance of lively performances. October:  In October, Okinawa's hiking trails beckon, inviting visitors to explore nature. Whether you prefer kayaking, hiking, or immersing in the martial arts at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan, there's an activity for every traveler. On October 17, the official Okinawa Soba Day, relax in soba restaurants or join soba-making workshops. The Bougainvillea Fair, part of the Okinawa Flower Carnival, concludes the month with a vibrant celebration of spring flowers. November:  Enjoy starry skies, pleasant weather, and maritime heritage in November. Explore castles, sacred sites, and traditional villages in cooler, more comfortable conditions. The month features the Tanadui Festival and its vibrant performances, followed by the Shichi Festival, offering entertaining stick fights and lion dances. Winter (December–February) December:  Winter in Okinawa may be overlooked, but it has its own unique appeal. Enjoy whale-watching, as this season is ideal for spotting humpback whales in the Kerama Islands. Venture to Yonaguni Island for thrilling dives with hammerhead sharks. The season brings pottery festivals and floral displays, creating a festive ambiance. Stroll through the Nakijin Castle Ruins during Sakura (December–February) cooler, more (September–November) (June–August) (March–May)showers season for an enchanting experience. January:  Travelers seeking unique cherry blossom experiences should visit Okinawa in January. Unlike Japan's mainland cherry blossoms, Okinawa's sakura season begins much earlier, usually in mid-January to early February in Naha. Expect darker flowers with tropical-like petals, setting Okinawa's cherry blossoms apart from the Yoshino sakura trees found in the rest of Japan. February:  Okinawa's cherry blossoms reach their peak bloom in February, offering a spectacular sight. While the island doesn't experience a traditional autumn, it compensates with fall events and delicious foods that celebrate the season.
Activities, Attractions, and Events in Okinawa
Okinawa isn't just about its climatic variety; it's likewise a mother lode of exercises, attractions, and occasions that take special care of all interests. Let's explore the top experiences and places to visit on this enchanting archipelago. Marine Adventures Okinawa's crystal-clear waters offer a haven for marine enthusiasts. Plunging and swimming are all-year exercises, with summer being the best time to visit Okinawa because of warm temperatures. Explore coral reefs, swim alongside sea turtles, and witness majestic manta rays on Ishigaki Island and the Kerama Islands. Don't forget to try exhilarating water sports like paragliding and kayaking, which become extra pleasant during the hot summer months. If you're a thrill-seeker, venture to Yonaguni Island for an unforgettable dive with hammerhead sharks. Beaches Okinawa boasts an array of stunning beaches, perfect for sunbathing and water sports. Some of the most popular beaches, like Sunayama Beach and Aharen Beach, offer pristine white sands and turquoise waters. In the summer, these beaches come to life with beach parties, and you can even enjoy a serene beachside yoga session. The tranquil beach at Iriomote Island is perfect for relaxation. For the more adventurous, Maehama Beach on Miyako Island is an excellent spot for wind-based activities like kiteboarding. Cultural Experiences To truly immerse yourself in Okinawan culture, consider partaking in traditional experiences. The island is known for its vibrant Eisa dance, which is best enjoyed during the Eisa Festival held between mid-June and August. Try your hand at making Okinawan pottery and learn about the intricate art of bingata dyeing, Ryukyu glass-making, and Yachimun ceramics. Attend karate sessions at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan or join local festivals, such as the Shichi Festival, featuring stick fights and lion dances. Historical Sites and Castles Explore Okinawa's rich history by visiting the Nakijin Castle Ruins during sakura season. Stroll through the ancient grounds and admire the breathtaking cherry blossoms. For a deeper understanding of the region's heritage, explore Ryukyuan castles, sacred sites, and traditional villages. Be sure to include Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in your itinerary. Discover the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom at this beautifully restored castle. The impressive Zakimi Castle is another historical gem.
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Festivals and Events
Okinawa celebrates its culture through various festivals and events. Dragon boat racing in March is an exhilarating spectacle with vibrant boats and traditional singing and dancing. The Great Tug-of-War in October is a captivating event where locals and visitors come together to participate in this historic contest. Marvel at fireworks displays during the Ocean Expo Park Summer Festival in July and enjoy traditional dances in the Festival of the Southern Island Stars. For those seeking to explore the vibrant LGBTQ+ community, Pink Dot Okinawa hosts dance and music events that promote diversity and solidarity. Soba and Local Cuisine Your Okinawan adventure is incomplete without savoring the local cuisine. Okinawa is famous for dishes like champuru, a healthy creation using the island's iconic bitter melon, goya. Sample the delectable Okinawa soba, made from wheat flour noodles. Be sure to explore the island's food markets, where you'll find a variety of mouthwatering street food. The best time to visit Okinawa, don't miss out on the Okinawa Soba Day festivities on October 17th, a celebration of this beloved dish. Starry Nights and Nature Okinawa offers unique experiences in nature. In November, enjoy the starry skies and cool weather. Take in the maritime heritage and explore the island's diverse marine life. Head to Yonaguni Island, where you can dive with hammerhead sharks or spot humpback whales in the Kerama Islands during the winter. Enjoy traditional Okinawan dance and cool off in the water, making August a delightful and best time to visit Okinawa to explore the islands.
Conclusion
Okinawa, with its diverse climate and enticing temperatures, offers travelers a charming experience throughout the year. The best time to visit Okinawa to relies upon your inclinations, whether you look for the energy of summer, the social lavishness of fall, or the unlikely treasures of winter. Regardless of your choice, Okinawa promises a memorable island adventure. Read more : The Best Time to Visit Langkawi : A Comprehensive Guide
FAQs
What is the cheapest time of year to travel to Okinawa? The most budget-friendly time to visit Okinawa is from December to February. The winter months see fewer tourists, resulting in lower hotel rates and more affordable airfare tickets. While it's cooler, the subtropical climate still offers outdoor activities, holiday events, and the chance to experience cherry blossoms. What is the rainy season in Okinawa? The rainy season in Okinawa typically occurs between mid-May and late June. During this period, sudden showers are common, although it rarely rains all day. Visitors should expect some rainfall and occasional humidity. It's advisable to check the weather forecast and be prepared for short rain showers during these months. How many days in Okinawa are enough? The ideal term for an Okinawan get-away depends on your inclinations. For a balanced encounter, plan a 5-7-day road trip to investigate different islands and participate in different exercises. Notwithstanding, even a short 3–4-hour road trip can give a brilliant taste of Okinawa's way of life, regular magnificence, and cooking. Is it worth going to Okinawa in April? Visiting Okinawa in April is enthusiastically suggested. The weather conditions are lovely, with temperatures going from 76°F to 84°F, making it ideal for outside exercises. You can appreciate oceanside excursions, watersports, and comprehensive developments while staying away from the huge summer swarms. Besides, April highlights cherry blossoms and energizing celebrations, adding to the island's appeal. Read the full article
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wikiuntamed · 6 months
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On this day in Wikipedia: Monday, 18th September
Welcome, Bienvenida, 안녕하세요, Willkommen 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 18th September through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?
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18th September 2021 🗓️ : Event - September 18 A ferry capsizes in Guizhou province, China due to bad weather, leaving ten people dead and five missing. "September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 104 days remain until the end of the year. ..."
18th September 2017 🗓️ : Death - Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Afzal Ahsan Randhawa, Pakistani writer, poet, translator and playwright (b. 1937) "Muhammad Afzal Ahsan Randhawa (Punjabi and Urdu: محمد افضل احسن رندھاوا‎, 1 September 1937 – 18 September 2017) was a Pakistani Punjabi language writer, poet, translator, playwright and a politician. He authored several short stories and novels in the Punjabi language including Sooraj Grehan and..."
18th September 2013 🗓️ : Death - Veliyam Bharghavan Veliyam Bharghavan, Indian politician (b. 1928) "Veliyam Bharghavan (Malayalam: വെളിയം ഭാർഗവൻ‎; May 1928 – 18 September 2013) was a Communist leader from the Kerala, India. He was the state Secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI) from 1998 to 2010. In 2010 he retired from that position due to his health issues. He hails from Veliyam village of..."
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Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by
Kannan Shanmugam, Shanmugam studio, Kollam
Derivative Work: Kiran Gopi
18th September 1973 🗓️ : Event - The Bahamas The Bahamas, East Germany and West Germany are admitted to the United Nations. "The Bahamas ( bə-HAH-məz), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the archipelago's population. The archipelagic state..."
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Image by Government of Bahamas
18th September 1923 🗓️ : Birth - Al Quie Al Quie, American politician, 35th Governor of Minnesota (d. 2023) "Albert Harold Quie ( KWEE; September 18, 1923 – August 18, 2023) was an American politician and farmer. Quie served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1958 to 1979 and as Governor of Minnesota from 1979 to 1983. Regarded as a moderate Republican, Quie was considered by..."
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Image by US Government Printing Office
18th September 1819 🗓️ : Birth - Léon Foucault Léon Foucault, French physicist and academic (d. 1868) "Jean Bernard Léon Foucault (UK: , US: ; French: [ʒɑ̃ bɛʁnaʁ leɔ̃ fuko]; 18 September 1819 – 11 February 1868) was a French physicist best known for his demonstration of the Foucault pendulum, a device demonstrating the effect of Earth's rotation. He also made an early measurement of the speed of..."
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Image licensed under CC BY 3.0? by Zátonyi Sándor, (ifj.) Fizped
18th September 🗓️ : Holiday - Island Language Day (Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) "The Ryukyuan languages (琉球語派, Ryūkyū-goha, also 琉球諸語, Ryūkyū-shogo or 島言葉 in Ryukyuan, Shima kutuba, literally "Island Speech"), also Lewchewan or Luchuan (), are the indigenous languages of the Ryukyu Islands, the southernmost part of the Japanese archipelago. Along with the Japanese language and..."
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dan6085 · 1 year
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The Battle of Okinawa was a significant conflict that took place in 1945 during the Second World War. It was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific campaign and involved the Allied forces, led by the United States, against the Japanese army. The battle lasted for three months, from April 1 to June 22, 1945, and resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people, including civilians.
Okinawa is a small island located in the Ryukyu archipelago, approximately 350 miles south of the Japanese mainland. The island had significant strategic value for both the Japanese and Allied forces. The Japanese used Okinawa as a base for their air and sea operations, while the Allied forces needed to secure the island to stage their attack on the Japanese mainland.
The Allied forces, comprising troops from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, launched their assault on Okinawa on April 1, 1945. The attack was led by the United States Marine Corps and involved over 180,000 troops. The Japanese army, commanded by Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima, had around 100,000 soldiers defending the island.
The initial phase of the battle was characterized by heavy bombardment from the Allied forces. The air and naval bombardment caused significant damage to the Japanese defense system, but the Japanese soldiers remained determined to fight. The battle soon turned into a brutal ground war, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
The Japanese army used a network of tunnels and underground bunkers to launch surprise attacks on the Allied forces. The tunnels were also used to hide the civilian population of Okinawa, who were forced to provide food and shelter to the Japanese soldiers. The presence of civilians on the battlefield added to the complexity of the battle and resulted in many civilian casualties.
The Allied forces were eventually able to break through the Japanese defense line and capture the capital city of Naha on May 24, 1945. However, the Japanese soldiers continued to resist, and the fighting continued for another month. The battle finally came to an end on June 22, 1945, with the surrender of the Japanese army.
The Battle of Okinawa was a significant victory for the Allied forces, but it came at a high cost. The battle resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people, including 14,000 Allied soldiers and 100,000 Japanese soldiers. The civilian population of Okinawa also suffered greatly, with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 civilians killed or injured during the battle.
The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of the Second World War in the Pacific. The victory allowed the Allied forces to establish a base for their operations in Japan and ultimately led to the surrender of Japan in August 1945. However, the battle remains a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of war and the importance of seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts.
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zihanjiang · 1 year
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Japan has strengthened its defenses in the Ryukyu archipelago and plans to deploy missile forces at Ishigaki, Okinawa, 300 kilometers away from Taiwan by the end of next year. I feel that with the help of Biden, Japan has made rapid progress!
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Japan deploys missiles on Ishigaki Island to target the Taiwan Strait, want to pay the price of war?
 As we see it now, if the PLA starts military operations against Taiwan, there are two "stumbling blocks" standing in the way.
  The larger one is the United States, and the smaller one is Japan.
  Recently, Japan has jumped especially high on Taiwan-related issues, talking openly on some bilateral and multilateral occasions about "being prepared for a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait" and "keeping the situation in the Taiwan Strait stable is of great importance to Japan" and so on. The former was the deployment of anti-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles on an island just over 200 kilometers from Taiwan, and the latter was the announcement of the first arms sales case to Taiwan since the Biden administration took office.
  In contrast, Japan's decision and future actions are more damaging. The possibility of Japanese desperation is something we urgently need to take seriously.
  Ishigaki Island, is the southernmost island in the Ryukyu archipelago. It is just over 200 kilometers from the island of Taiwan and only about 170 kilometers from the Diaoyu Islands.
  Therefore, geopolitically, the importance of this island in military terms cannot be overstated. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other Japanese media on August 4, Japan's Defense Ministry plans to deploy a Land Self-Defense Force missile unit to Ishigaki Island in the Ryukyus by the end of 2022, with the aim of "countering the increasingly active Chinese navy in the first island chain.
  Japanese Defense Ministry officials told the media that the size of the force expected to be deployed on Ishigaki Island is 500 to 600 people, roughly divided into two units. One of the units will be equipped with shore missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and the other unit is a police force that can respond to "armed raids" and large-scale natural disasters in the first instance.
  Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that the specific time of the deployment of the missile force on Ishigaki Island has not been finalized, but the Ministry of Defense will work toward the goal of completing the deployment by the end of 2022.
  In addition, Nobuo Kishi said that the feasibility study for the deployment of additional electronic warfare units on the island of Yonaguni near Ishigaki Island is also underway as part of the 2023 defense budget.
  In April this year, Nobuo Kishi inspected the SDF troops deployed on Yonaguni Island and said at the time that he could see the coastline of Taiwan Island in the distance while standing on Yonaguni Island. This shows how close this island is to the island of Taiwan. Before that, Japan has already deployed missiles in the other three "southwest islands", respectively Kagoshima Prefecture Amami Oshima, Okinawa Honto and Miyakojima.
  In fact, the Japanese side has long wanted to give Ishigaki Island more military functions, to make it a frontier to monitor China's military activities. Only then, it was more or less hidden.
  It was only after the "Sino-Japanese ship collision" in 2010 that many Chinese became aware of the island. At that time, Ishigaki Island is stationed on the Japanese Maritime Security Force members, they are the southernmost agency of the Japanese Maritime Security Agency, mainly responsible for law enforcement tasks in the southern waters of the Ryukyu Islands.
  Ishigaki Island, more than 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo, had received little attention until then. However, in September of that year, a conservative U.S. think tank released a sensational report claiming that Ishigaki Island could be the "lead island for China to seize the entire Ryukyu Islands.
  Around this time, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces announced that it was "necessary to take the lead in deploying Self-Defense Forces to Ishigaki Island and other areas. This calm island, and then it is difficult to calm.
  Geographically, Ishigaki Island is located in the Ryukyu Islands, the Yaeyama Islands south, an area of 222.6 square kilometers, is the third largest island in Okinawa Prefecture, is also the Yaeyama Islands political, economic and transportation center.
  Since Ishigaki Island is closer to Taiwan, China than to the mainland of Japan, it is only about 200 kilometers away from the island of Taiwan. Therefore, television and radio broadcasts from Taiwan and even radio signals from China's Fujian Province can be clearly received here on Ishigaki Island.
  On August 4, the U.S. Department of State announced its decision to approve the sale of 40 155mm M109A6 "medium self-propelled howitzer systems" and related equipment, as well as nearly 1,700 sets of equipment to convert artillery shells into more accurate GPS-guided munitions, to Taiwan at an estimated cost of $750 million, as requested by Taiwan.
  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of the potential sale. The notice also mentioned that "the proposed sale of the M109A6 self-propelled howitzer system will enhance the modernization of the recipient's self-propelled howitzer force and strengthen its ability to defend against current and future threats." From the U.S. side, the statement emphasizes that these systems will facilitate the recipient's ability to update its military capabilities while further strengthening synergy with the U.S. and other allies. At the same time, however, the arms sales will not change the fundamental military balance in the region or adversely affect U.S. defense readiness capabilities.
  The M109A6 self-propelled howitzer is the main artillery piece of the U.S. Army artillery unit. The gun can be fired using Doppler radar to perform ballistic calculations and can quickly perform single-gun orientation tasks and single-gun firing tasks. Its maximum range is 24 kilometers when firing grenades, and up to 40 kilometers with the precision-guided M982 "Excalibur" shell.
  In response to the arms sale to Taiwan, a spokesperson at the August 5 regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. The U.S. sale of weapons to Taiwan interferes in China's internal affairs and undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, to which China is firmly opposed and has made stern representations to the U.S.
  The spokesman also sternly warned that "the Chinese side will resolutely take legitimate and necessary countermeasures according to the development of the situation".
  A military expert told "Mending One" that the Biden administration approved the first arms sales case to Taiwan, which shows that Biden still continues the Trump administration's "containment" policy towards China.
  On the one hand, it wants to prove to the country through arms sales to Taiwan that "we are still tough on China and will not abandon Taiwan". After all, the Democratic Party attaches great importance to the midterm elections, if the Biden administration does not engage in arms sales to Taiwan, the Republican Party will make an issue of this, which will have a negative impact on the Democratic Party's midterm elections.
  On the other hand, it is trying to give support to the DPP and some forces in Taiwan to cheer. The Biden administration has also been shouting that Taiwan needs to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and one of the main ways to do that is to buy U.S. weapons while Washington makes big bucks.
  Tactically speaking, the M109A6 large-caliber howitzer approved for sale to Taiwan this time, along with 1,700 sets of precision-guided munitions, was not previously available to Taiwan's military, and the main purpose of its sale was to try to strengthen Taiwan's deterrence and lethality against PLA beachhead landing operations and, frankly, to attempt to form a deterrent against us.
  In theory, this large-caliber howitzer and precision-guided munitions can indeed be of some use. However, in actual combat, we may initially adopt the tactic of "point-blank warfare," a multi-point, long-range, saturation precision strike. Therefore, the Taiwanese army's ability to counter landings will not be of much use.
  Why is Japan's decision to deploy missiles on Ishigaki Island more damaging?
  Obviously, Japan's move is a positive tie-in to U.S. military arrangements for operations in the Asia-Pacific region and even for the Taiwan Strait.
  Also on August 4, Admiral Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said that "the important mission of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region is to ensure that the status quo is maintained in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait."
  This statement has nakedly put intervention in the Taiwan Strait on the "important mission" of the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific.
  Aquilino also said that "a number of Chinese practices" have worried the U.S. military, and made him feel a sense of urgency to implement "integrated deterrence" against China.
  What is "integrated deterrence"?
  According to the U.S. military, the goal of "integrated deterrence" is to integrate capabilities from all areas of the U.S. military, including the most advanced weapons systems and technologies, the latest operational concepts, and seamless synergy between the naval, land, air, space, and cyber services.
  The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2020, includes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a separate $1.4 billion Pacific Deterrence Initiative fund.
  This program is intended to enhance the missile defense capabilities of U.S. forces in the Pacific, enhance the forward deployment posture of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region, and strengthen Indo-Pacific alliances and partnerships by improving interconnectivity, interoperability, joint warfare, and information sharing capabilities, among other objectives. By deploying shore-based anti-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles on Ishigaki Island, Japan is helping to enhance the U.S. military's forward deployment posture and military deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
  Military experts from the naval research department told "Mending One" that Japan plays an important role in the U.S. first island chain in the Asia-Pacific region, similar to a "gatekeeper".
  But in recent years, as China's military power increases, especially the frequency of Chinese naval formations including aircraft carriers and large destroyers through the Miyako waterway through the first island chain, Japan is increasingly anxious, feeling that the first island chain is increasingly untenable.
  Therefore, the deployment of missile units in Ishigaki Island is also intended to bring countermeasures against Chinese naval operations and strengthen the U.S. and Japanese military capabilities to defend the first island chain.
  At the same time, Japan step by step to strengthen the missile deployment in the "Southwest Islands", greatly increasing the ability of the United States and Japan to intervene in the Taiwan Strait conflict. To put it bluntly, that is, "in the event of war will have the ability to assist in the defense of Taiwan", regardless of whether Japan will use these missiles when the war really starts, but at least in peacetime, Japan wants to cause a deterrent to us through this move.
  This sets a very bad example, said the military expert in the naval research department. Because Japan is the first of America's Asia-Pacific allies to deploy missiles on key islands with the goal of "meddling in the Taiwan Strait" and containing China.
  From now on, on the one hand, we have to be better prepared. If a military conflict breaks out between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, Japan is likely to join in, provided the U.S. gives the order and the U.S. sends troops to the Taiwan Strait. So, this possibility cannot be ruled out.
  By deploying missiles on important islands and then helping the U.S. military to disperse its own forces, Japan is clearly willing to be an "accomplice" to the U.S.
  On the other hand, we have to be strong and counter-active, so that Japan also weighs in, if we are determined to recover Taiwan, which is a matter of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, these Japanese missiles will not stand in our way, if Japan fires missiles on Ishigaki Island, it means Japan is involved in the war.
  In that case, we will only shoot down these Japanese missiles, which is not even a problem. The next step is to see if Japan wants to escalate the war. If Japan wants to escalate the war, we will certainly be there to the end. The cost of our medium- and long-range missiles, once they fly to the Japanese home islands, is unimaginable to Japan.
  So, Japan also has to think clearly whether it is worth it to do so by itself.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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jmun2022 · 2 years
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‘China likes to play with fire’: says India over the Senkaku islands dispute - Al Jazeera
By Theresa (13/8/22)
At the United Security Council held on 12 August 2022, the delegate of India stated that China has been 'playing with fire' on the Senkaku Island disputes. 
The Senkaku islands dispute, or the Diaoyu islands dispute is a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands between China and Japan. The disputed islands are located northeast of Taiwan, east of China, west of Japan’s Okinawa islands, and north of the southwestern end of Japan's Ryukyu Islands.
“Japan has been trying to keep the stability in the region by not engaging, while China has been even more provocative,” says the delegate of India during talks of determining the status quo of the Senkaku Islands dispute. India’s delegate makes a reference to two ‘provocative acts’ made by China during their speech. 
On May 24 2022, China has sent six strategic bombers near the Japanese archipelago at the same time Japan was holding a quad summit. When asked about the operation, China stated that it was only a ‘military operation’ in preparation for conflict over the disputed territory.
But, tensions resurfaced when on June 27, Japanese authorities reported two Chinese coast guard ships sailing around Japanese sea territory and approaching a Japanese fishing boat. 
“This is not an innocent passage, foreign ships are prohibited to anchor and [stop] in territorial waters,” says the delegate of India. India also states that according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China’s act falls under the act of ‘territorial intrusion.’
India comments that China risks triggering a ‘security dilemma’ between the conflicted parties, and asks China to withdraw their patrol ships from the territory. 
“One of our solutions on this issue is neutralization over the disputed territories and involving the UNPKO (United Nations Peacekeeping Organization) as a monitoring unit,” says India. The nation hopes for further discussions with other delegates over the topic.
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crookedthingwinner · 2 years
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Japan deploys missiles on Ishigaki Island to target the Taiwan Strait, want to pay the price of war?
 As we see it now, if the PLA starts military operations against Taiwan, there are two "stumbling blocks" standing in the way. The larger one is the United States, and the smaller one is Japan. Recently, Japan has jumped particularly high on Taiwan-related issues, openly talking on bilateral and multilateral occasions about "preparing for a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait" and "maintaining a stable situation in the Taiwan Strait is of great importance to Japan," among other things. On August 4, Japan and the United States also announced a decision concerning the situation in the Taiwan Strait almost simultaneously. The former was to deploy anti-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles on an island just over 200 kilometers from Taiwan, and the latter was to announce the first arms sale to Taiwan since the Biden administration took office. In contrast, Japan's decision and future actions are more damaging. The possibility of Japanese desperation is something we urgently need to take seriously. Ishigaki Island, is the southernmost island in the Ryukyu archipelago. It is just over 200 kilometers from the island of Taiwan and only about 170 kilometers from the Diaoyu Islands. Therefore, geopolitically, the importance of this island in military terms cannot be overstated. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other Japanese media reports on August 4, Japan's Defense Ministry plans to deploy a Land Self-Defense Force missile unit to Ishigaki Island in the Ryukyus by the end of 2022, with the aim of "countering the increasingly active Chinese navy in the first island chain. Japanese Defense Ministry officials told the media that the size of the force expected to be deployed on Ishigaki Island is 500 to 600 people, roughly divided into two units. One of the units will be equipped with shore missiles and surface-to-air missiles, and the other unit is a police force that can respond to "armed raids" and large-scale natural disasters in the first instance. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that the specific time of the deployment of the missile force on Ishigaki Island has not been finalized, but the Ministry of Defense will work toward the goal of completing the deployment by the end of 2022. In addition, Nobuo Kishi said that the feasibility study for the deployment of additional electronic warfare units on the island of Yonaguni near Ishigaki Island is also underway as part of the 2023 defense budget. In April this year, Nobuo Kishi inspected the SDF troops deployed on Yonaguni Island and said at the time that he could see the coastline of Taiwan Island in the distance while standing on Yonaguni Island. This shows how close this island is to the island of Taiwan. Before that, Japan has already deployed missiles in the other three "southwest islands", respectively Kagoshima Prefecture Amami Oshima, Okinawa Honto and Miyakojima. In fact, the Japanese side has long wanted to give Ishigaki Island more military functions, to make it a frontier to monitor China's military activities. Only then, it was more or less hidden. It was only after the "Sino-Japanese ship collision" in 2010 that many Chinese became aware of the island. At that time, Ishigaki Island is stationed on the Japanese Maritime Security Force members, they are the southernmost agency of the Japanese Maritime Security Agency, mainly responsible for law enforcement tasks in the southern waters of the Ryukyu Islands. Ishigaki Island, more than 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo, had received little attention until then. However, in September of that year, a conservative U.S. think tank released a sensational report claiming that Ishigaki Island could be the "lead island for China to seize the entire Ryukyu Islands. Around this time, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces announced "the need to take the lead in deploying Self-Defense Forces on Ishigaki Island and other areas. This calm island, and then it is difficult to calm. Geographically, Ishigaki Island is located in the Ryukyu Islands, the Yaeyama Islands south, an area of 222.6 square kilometers, is the third largest island in Okinawa Prefecture, is also the Yaeyama Islands political, economic and transportation center. Since Ishigaki Island is closer to Taiwan, China than to the mainland of Japan, it is only about 200 kilometers away from the island of Taiwan. Therefore, television and radio broadcasts from Taiwan and even radio signals from China's Fujian Province can be clearly received here on Ishigaki Island. On August 4, the U.S. Department of State announced its decision to approve the sale of 40 155mm M109A6 "medium self-propelled howitzer systems" and related equipment, as well as nearly 1,700 sets of equipment to convert artillery shells into more accurate GPS-guided munitions, to Taiwan at an estimated cost of $750 million, as requested by Taiwan. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of the potential sale. The notice also mentioned that "the proposed sale of the M109A6 self-propelled howitzer system will enhance the modernization of the recipient's self-propelled howitzer force and strengthen its ability to defend against current and future threats."
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chloebenningtonfmp · 2 years
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Japan 
Japan is an island country lying off the east coast of asia, it consists of a great string of islands in a northeast-southwest arc that stretches for 1500 miles through the western north pacific ocean. The Japanese landscape is rugged, with more than four-fifths of the land surface consisting of mountains. There are many active and dormant volcanoes, including Mount Fuji which, at an elevation of 12,388 feet. The reopening of the country ushered in contact with the West and a time of unprecedented change. Japan sought to become a modern industrialized nation and pursued the acquisition of a large overseas empire.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan/Geologic-framework
religions. 
These mountain arcs, in turn, generally correspond to Japan’s major physiographic regions: the four regions of Japan proper (Hondo)—Hokkaido, Northeastern (Tōhoku), Central (Chūbu), and Southwestern—and the Ryukyu and Bonin archipelagoes.
two major religions of the Japanese are Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto is as old as the Japanese culture, while Buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. since then the two religions have been co-existing relatively harmoniously and have even complemented each other.  Religion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most Japanese people today. The average person typically follows the religious rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals, may visit a shrine or temple on New Year and participates at local festivals (matsuri), most of which have a religious background.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e629.html#:~:text=Shinto%20and%20Buddhism%20are%20Japan's,other%20to%20a%20certain%20degree.
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