Governor Tamaki renews his “National Pilgrimage” after 2 years with an online appeal over the base issue. (28ja22)

Governor Denny Tamaki wants to deepen the understanding and the discussion of the US Military base issue across the nation. So, Okinawa Prefecture is renewing his national pilgrimage in a “Talk Caravan” symposium.


The governor started online with the title “In Fukuoka” on 27 January.

Governor Tamaki appealed, “To consider your own situation, it’s essential to feel it in your own skin. I want people to consider the incidents and accidents caused by the bases as if they were inflicted on their own loved ones.”


The aim of the symposiums is to awaken opinions and widen understanding of base issues such as the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. The governor had held the symposiums in 4 cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo) until November of 2019, when the Covid-19 problems forced their cancellation. This was a new start after about 2 years.


The governor intended to begin the first symposium on the ground in Fukuoka City, but had to change to online due to the widespread surge in Omicron cases since the year end. Governor Tamaki wants to remind people that now, even as the anniversary of 50 years since the return of Okinawa to Japan nears, the situation remains that about 70% of US Military allocated facilities in Japan are centered in his prefecture. Against a background of heightened opposition movements in mainland Japan during the 1950s, the US military moved into Okinawa. Touching on such historical circumstances, Governor Tamaki pleaded, “Just as the mainland, we also are continuing to protest the excessive burden of the bases.” 


On 23 January, Governor Tamaki’s own supported newcomer candidate was beaten in the Nago City mayoral election. The governor, with the feeling of Okinawa in his skin, noted, “Everyone is against making bases. I hear it even in the voices of those willing to tolerate them.”


Original Japanese article: Asahi Shimbun Digital, published Friday 28 January 2022 at 06:00

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/901a7ac4dd9940b59133954a3e43d6ef2cb2c8b1


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. 

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

  3. 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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