“Won’t you ride our bus today?”, with rides free in Okinawa on Wednesdays and Sundays until 29 September. (5se24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Spider Hibiscus, roadside Uruma, 4ae24.


The desired intention is to link the easing of traffic congestion to the promotion of the use of buses. So, from 4 September, the Prefecture began its arrangement to offer free rides all day on scheduled buses on Wednesdays and Sundays every week until 29 September.


The free bus fares on scheduled buses and community buses within the prefecture will include those in its outer islands. Passengers will just deposit their boarding tickets in the ticket collection box when deboarding.


Governor Denny Tamaki, who generally travels in his official car, today took a bus to the Prefectural Office  The governor commented, “I could savor once again that different atmosphere of traveling by bus. This time, when I had the chance to board the bus, I heard the delighted voices of passengers, who generally ride buses, calling out cheerfully, “Aren’t you taking the bus today?”, inviting me to pass a pleasant bit of time riding the bus.” 


A passenger said, “I was on my way when I heard about the free rides, so I took a bus to get here.”


Another said, “I often come to Naha just for fun. So, I figured I wanted to take the free bus this time. Next I’m going to Senaga Island, so when I do, I think I’ll take a bus.”


And yet another noted, “I’m really grateful for the free bus. So, I want to try going to Yanbaru (northern Okinawa) by bus.


If passengers on the bus answer a simple survey, accessed by a QR code, they will even get coupons for restaurants and such. The free ride program only lasts until 29 September. Since some buses, such as expressway buses, may not be included, the Prefecture advises confirmation of bus participation on the home page of “Watta- (Ryukyuan: Our) Bus Gratitude Festival”.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Television Broadcasting, published Wednesday 4 September 2024 at 18:41.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0fb1f3b37e38c67ddcc346376f8b8d9b4c9a93d8


Denny in the News:


Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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