Denny in the News

A fresh face, Yohei Kishimoto (48) of the Nago City Assembly has made clear his candidacy in the 23 January 2022 mayoral election in Nago, Okinawa, with the support of All Okinawa. On 28 November he held a rally in Nago to announce his platform.  The issue that will loom large in the campaign is the problem of the new base construction at Henoko. Kishimoto emphasized his stance in opposition, “It will wreck the natural environment. The landfill at Oura Bay in Henoko runs counter to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I’m firm in my decision to refuse to allow the new base construction!” Among the 7 pillars of his platform, he especially lauded child educational support and local economic revitalization. As for policies he wants to emphasize, he announced the establishment of a fund to promote child education and more, support for product sales and start-up business through the newly established Nago City Net Sales Department and the also newly established Meio University Pharmacy...

(Nago) On 23 January next year, Nago will hold the election for its city mayor. All Okinawa’s strength is backing a fresh candidate, Yohei Kishimoto (48) of the City Assembly. On 28 November, Kishimoto held a meeting in the city of Nago to announce his political objectives. He made public his stance on important issues such as childcare and school lunch fees, the continuation of free medical care for children, and cooperation with the Prefecture in its opposition to the new base construction at Henoko. Referring to the continuation of free childcare, he laid out a plan to establish a fund with the motto of “Child Sun Fund.” He lauded it with, “We want total support from infancy to university!” He also praised the new Pharmacy Department at Nago’s Meio University and Nago City Hall’s own establishment of its Internet Special Sales Department. In regard to the new base construction at Henoko linked to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield, he made clear his support of Govern...

The US Military Futenma Airfield is slated to be moved to a new site at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa. However, the soft ground at the site along the coastline has become increasingly problematic. At the first stage, 3 years before the beginning of the landfill in 2015, the contractor for the geological survey found problems with the ground. The Okinawa Defense Bureau of the Defense Ministry received that report.  These facts just became known on 27 November. Defense Bureau materials relating to the construction clearly showed concerns that “sinking over the long term be considered.” Kyodo News acquired the materials under a freedom of information request. The National Government did not make such details public at the time. On 25 November, Governor Denny Tamaki refused a Defense Bureau request for a change in the Henoko design including reinforcing the soft ground, stating, “Expectations of its completion are unfounded.” The National Government plans to take countermeasures to pursue th...

On hearing news of Governor Denny Tamaki’s refusal of permission  for the National Governments request for design changes in the new base construction in Okinawa Prefecture at Henoko in Nago, a rally was held at the Prefectural People’s Square in Naha on 26 November: The All Okinawa Assembly to Halt New Base Construction at Henoko. They were there in support of Governor Tamaki’s decision vigorously raising up the cry, “Let’s shove them in a corner and halt the new base construction at Henoko!” House of Councillors Member Yoichi Iha pointed out, “There were collapses in the landfill with earthquakes at level 1 or 2. We can’t let them finish building a base that might well collapse in a level 3 quake.” The joint representative for All Okinawa, Norio Oshiro, pleaded, “Let’s go raise our voices to the whole nation, the whole World, to stop Henoko. Governor Tamaki also sent a message to the rally, “Insofar as the determination of the prefecture’s people remains strong, they’ll never get...

Speaking in Naha to the press corps on 25 November, Ginowan Mayor Masanori Matsugawa commented on Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki’s rejection of permission for the design changes requested for the Henoko landfill, “ I can only feel regret that the date for the return (to Okinawan control) of Futenma Airfield will be prolonged.” Mayor Matsugawa pointed out that if the relocation of the base within the prefecture is not accepted, in addition to showing an acknowledgement  that the Futenma return will be difficult, “With the delay crimes and accidents will continue, and even springs and wells within the base can’t be inspected.” He further commented on the fierce standoff between the National Government and the Prefecture, “Looking forward to next year’s fiftieth anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan, I’m worried about the decision on the next Okinawa Promotion Plan and the compilation of the budget. The timing of the rejection was not very good.” Original Japanese article: Okinawa ...

In connection with the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield, a new base is under construction at Henoko in the city of Nago. The Okinawa Defense Bureau has submitted design changes to the Prefecture for construction such as improvements in the soft seabed. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has solidified his intention to refuse permission for the changes. At around 5:30 in the evening of 25 November, the governor will hold a press conference to explain his position to the people of the prefecture. In the morning of the same day, prefectural executives explained his position to the Prefectural Assembly. The regular Prefectural Assembly November session began at 10 a.m. the same day. At the session, a proposal for a supplementary budget to respond to the floating pumice problem was introduced. After the Prefectural Executive Department ended their day’s session, the governor’s position was explained at a meeting of the whole Assembly. As for the process for making the refusal, at a...

On 22 November, Okinawa Prefecture held its second meeting of its conference of  relevant directors on measures to deal with the floating pumice problem. A basic disposal plan of 7 points to deal with collection and reuse was decided. For methods of reuse, it was decided to make use of ideas from private business and others. Ideas will be solicited from 24 November until 8 December. The National Government will guarantee management of depositories for the collected pumice in question in cooperation with municipalities. Prefectural residents, city resident groups, municipalities, and scholastic research organizations will work together on the project. They will amass  ideas on moving ahead with collection and reuse, use of the expertise of  the municipalities in the work of collection, and financial assistance. Governor Denny Tamaki stressed,  “Let’s gather together the forces of the people and the officials and go to work with a sense of speed to get this done.” The ...

On 20 November, a huge transport CH53E helicopter, apparently based at Futenma Airfield, came flying into the US Military Naha Port Bay Facility (Naha Military Port). At least the one helicopter landed and parked in the facility. At the same facility, 3 vertical takeoff and landing transport MV22 Osprey aircraft from the same base also flew in, leaving 4 aircraft parked inside the facility as of 10 p.m. on 22 November. According to the response Okinawa Prefecture got from the Okinawa Defense Bureau, the US Military is characterizing the issue as “routine maneuvers.” Okinawa Prefecture Vice-governor Kiichiro Jahana protested by phone on 20 November to Okinawa Defense Bureau Chief Isao Ono, “We can’t just overlook actions that ignore the region and its residents.” He further requested that Ono review the provision of information and the rules for handling aircraft transport. On 19 November, both Governor Denny Tamaki and Naha Mayor Mikiko Shiroma announced with a clear voice their  o...

On 21 November, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki attended the National Governors Conference Covid-19 Rapid Response Headquarters online meeting. He offered his hope for publicity and financial measures for the third Covid-19 vaccinations prior to the distribution of supplies to the municipalities by the National Government.  He also pointed out the necessity of having the prefectures carry out the mass inoculations for the third Covid-19 vaccinations. The governor stated, “I would like there to be broad financial measures in place so localities will not be stuck with the financial burden.”  On another issue, the Tourism Agency laid out its tourism assistance program on 19 November. It added “Neighboring Prefecture Tourism” to the National Treasury targeted “Prefectural Resident Discount” which offers tourism discounts to residents and is managed independently by the prefectures. The governor noted, “Okinawa is a prefecture of islands. The concept of neighboring prefect...

On 19 November, 3 US Marine Ospreys landed at Naha Military Port. Mayor of Naha Mikiko Shiroma and Governor Denny Tamaki separately announced their comments, expressing “Great indignation!” toward the US military.  Shiroma explained, “I’ve expressed my position out of concern for safety: ‘I’ve been against the deployment of Ospreys in the prefecture,’ right up to the present.” She further emphasized, “The Naha Military Port of the Naha Bay Facility is next to Naha Airport where lots of civilian aircraft takeoff and land. I fundamentally cannot accept having the safety of residents of our city, of our prefecture, or even more to the point, our many tourists and others threatened by their flying in and out.”  Governor Tamaki, on the streets of Naha, regarding aircraft flying in and out of that facility whose purpose is not to handle aircraft, stressed, “This leaves the surrounding residents and the people of our prefecture with a strong sense of unease.” With emphasis on the att...

The Defense Ministry Joint Staff Office began its SDF joint (live training) exercises all across the nation on 19 November. On the same day Marine SDF transport ships  docked at Ishigaki Port in Okinawa Prefecture. Voices of resistance arose such as city resident groups holding a protest meeting against the use of a civilian port. On 18 November the Prefecture asked that the training have as little impact as possible on the daily lives of the prefecture’s residents and pleaded with the National Government that the use of civilian ports and sites  be limited to only the smallest possible areas necessary to carry out the training. The exercises will last until the end of November. At 1 p.m. on 19 November, a Maritime SDF transport ship entered Ishigaki Port. Ground SDF troops who were waiting on shore assisted in the docking by tying hawsers passed down from the  SDF sailors on deck to the pier. After the troops and sailors, working together, finished preparations such as...

(Tokyo) on 18 November, Governor Denny Tamaki and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held talks at the Prime Minister‘s Residence. It was their first meeting since Kishida took office. The governor had not had a meeting with a current prime minister since October of 2020. The governor requested a special measures law to have a period of 10 years applied to the New Okinawa Promotion Project, the maintenance of Okinawa’s portion of the budget at the 300 billion yen level, and an expansion of Okinawa’s tax system, such as liquor taxes. The reduction of the base burden for Okinawa was also requested. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. At the Prime Minister’s Residence, the governor was questioned about his negotiations with the Prime Minister by the press corps. He answered succinctly, “I offered my requests on the Okinawa Promotion, my hopes for tax reform, and a guarantee on 3 budget items.” After the governor finished his requests to LDP Diet members, he explained in response to a question ...

On 17 November, the Prefecture announced that Governor Denny Tamaki was on his way to Tokyo to confer with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. One element among the requests to the National Government concerns the establishment of a new plan to replace the Okinawa Promotion Plan that expires at the end of 2021. Governor Tamaki is also likely to request a dialog between the Prefecture and the National Government on the new base construction at Henoko in the city of Nago associated with the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield which the governor  is appealing to have cancelled. Since Prime Minister Kishida took office on 4 October, this is the first time the prime minister has responded to the governor’s request for a meeting. Immediately after the inauguration of the new government, Governor Tamaki went up to Tokyo to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Kishida. However Kishida was unable to fit one into his busy schedule.  On 18 November, the governor will also meet face to...

It has become evident that the severe impact of the floating pumice has shifted to even below the surface of the sea. Out in the deep around Okinawa Prefecture’s Tsuken Island, Japan’s prime mosuku harvesting area, the sea looks pristine at first glance. But when you peer down below, there they are, just under the surface in the deep, innumerable white grains of shattered pumice.    Due to this situation, setting out the mosuku nets has not proceeded as planned. Masaya (=正也?) Inafuku, director of the Tsuken Branch of the Katsuren Fisheries Association, complains, “Right in the middle of our return trips, the boats break down. Not just 1 boat, but 2 or three in the group have the same sort of problems.” With these kinds of issues arising, Okinawa Prefecture established its countermeasures committee. Okinawa Governor DEnny Tamaki noted, “It’s becoming clear that we have call this a long-term problem, considering, moreover, the problems of cleanup and disposal.” The Prefecture is...