Denny 1oc21




New Prime Minister Kishida’s involvement in Okinawa (10c21)


The new Prime Minister Kishida of the LDP  has previously faced the problems of Okinawa’s development and the American military bases in successive jobs, first as minister in charge of Okinawa under the Abe administration and then as foreign minister, again under the Abe administration. 


In Okinawa, voices have been raised requesting a revision of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement which acknowledges special rights for military personnel and those attached to the military and permits activities exclusive to the American Military that frequently cause accidents or problems originating from the bases. Citizens of the prefecture exploded with rage in 2016 when a 20-year-old woman was assaulted and killed by a man attached to the military. 


Kishida’s Foreign Ministry at the time brokered a US-Japan agreement that clarified the rules for those attached to the military based on the Status of Forces Agreement, whose boundaries had previously been ambiguous. The thinking was that if the guarantees of the Status of Forces Agreement did not apply to those who were separated from their association with the military, it would foster deterrence from crime. Yet, according to the Foreign Ministry, as of January this year, the number of those associated with the US Military was 12,600, while in September of 2019 it was 11,280, an increase of 1300. Moreover, no drastic change has as yet been made to rules such as those regarding criminal jurisdiction. That fosters a breeding ground for a feeling of special status. 


When a 2016 accident that had an impact on the environment occurred, a supplementary agreement was concluded to allow municipalities entrance to bases. Kishida, at the time foreign minister, enthusiastically crowed its success, “In the 55 years since the conclusion of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, for the first time there is a supplementary international promise confirming that in the future operational reform will have a greatly changed significance.” 


In April of last year, when an accident involving the release of foam with PFAS (organic fluorine compounds), which are harmful to humans, from a fire extinguisher occurred, entry into a base was first permitted. However, anxiety among the local populace in Okinawa worsened when high concentrations of toxic PFAS were discovered, not only in the land in Futenma Base, but also  water purification plants and rivers around US bases.


In 2016, PFAS was discovered in the Chatan water purification plant which services 450,000 people with water. The Prefecture continually requested entry into Kadena Base, which is nearby the water purification plant, to determine the source of the pollution. However, without the permission of the American Military, it really could not happen. According to the environmental supplement agreement, entry presupposes a matter that the American Military reports to the Japanese side. That indicates that the criteria for the judgement on entry for an investigation is left to the American side. 


On hearing the news of Kishida becoming the new prime minister, Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his hope, “With all the problems such as Okinawa’s progress, child poverty, the US base quandary, the problem of the new base construction at Henoko, may he sincerely face the myriad problems Okinawa holds, and I would like to ask his utmost efforts in solving them.”


It remains to be seen how the new Prime Minister Kishida, who was at the forefront of US-Japan negotiations as foreign minister, faces the subject of Okinawa, about to welcome next year its fiftieth year since its return to Japan.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Television (OTV), published Wednesday 29 September 2021 at 20:24


https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5b46714037284069eb720df55d07279c668e0572


Translator’s note:

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.

  2. 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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