Denny in the News: 25 August 2021

 The Okinawa Promotion Plan will extend the reduced liquor tax on beer and awamori (Okinawa’s traditional liquor) but abolish it in stages within 5 to 10 years.


(Tokyo) The Cabinet Office indicated the basic direction regarding the new Okinawa Promotion starting from 2022 at the expiration of the Okinawa Promotion Special Measures Law. The Government specified that the reduced liquor tax measures  for beer and awamori would be eliminated in stages within 5 to 10 years from now. It also announced the de facto extension of the Okinawa Promotion Law noting, “It’s essential just this one time now to take legal steps to advance promotion measures”  with so many issues remaining for the reality of Okinawa’s independent development and the flourishing lifestyle of its people. In line with the basic plan, the Government will proceed with preparations, hoping to present a proposal next year at the regular meeting of the Diet, but was unclear about the interval for legal measures after 2022.


Facing the liquor tax, at the June assembly of the LDP Okinawa Promotion Exploratory Commission, Orion Beer and the Prefectural Liquor Brewers Union issued a statement on the “graduation” from the mitigation measures. As to the basic direction, they explained their reason for aiming to scrap it, “We are submitting a proposal to reevaluate the basic plan from concerned parties.” On the other hand, the brewing industry “will support originality and ingenuity.”  The industry people indicated the Okinawa Promotion bulk subsidies are a direction which  “will continue to keep attention on such effective activities.”  


As for the extension and expansion of  the law promoting the after-use of land now used by the resident (US) army, the Government  has put together a promotion for building a medical center on the former site of the West Futenma Housing District. Regarding the Okinawan Promotion Development Finance Corporation, the Government maintained its position that “The Administrative Reform Advancement Law is tied up with the Japan Finance Corporation” and “We’re considering a continuation of the monetary policy function as it pertains to Okinawa. The Government also stressed child poverty alleviation, noting, “Income improvement is essential for mother and child households.” The Government further added the necessity of things like habitation support, family provider support such as guaranteed employment, and “the concrete production of opportunities such as sex education.” 


As for English education, the Government noted that US Military bases, Okinawa Science and Technology Graduate School and others “must be pointed out as rich educational resources and top class in the nation.” The Government further emphasized things such as raising productivity through digitalization, development of human resources, and industrial competitiveness. It also touched on a review of the tax system for each area such as promoting the formation of tourism venues. As for the post-war cleanup, necessary measures have been taken with a view toward solving the problem of post-war cleanup such as disposal of unexploded ordinance and the Tsushima Maru Peace Memorial project.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Wednesday 25 August 2021 at 07:31

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/1b4f4e4da742566c754bb82adeb6c01cee28e3bd


Translator’s Notes

  1. Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

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. 


  1. 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 the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


  1. 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 of great help.

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