Denny in the News

  “It’s the judgment of the city’s people. We’re unwavering.” Governor Tamaki on the loss of the All Okinawa backed candidate in the Ishigaki City mayoral election. (28fe22) In tandem with the end of the term, the mayoral election was held on 27 February in the city of Ishigaki. The incumbent Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama (54) won his fourth term, beating his rival former City Assemblyman Yoshiyuki Toita (52)  by a margin of 2454 votes.  For press coverage on the topic on the morning of 28 February, Governor Denny Tamaki opined, “It’s the judgment of the city’s people.” All Okinawa, which supports Governor Tamaki, had put its strength behind Toita. All Okinawa supported candidates also were defeated in January mayoral elections in Nago and Nanjo. When asked about rebuilding the structure of All Okinawa’s power, Governor Tamaki replied, “This was not an election about widening the power of All Okinawa. I’d rather have you think of the election’s essential purpose as asking for ...

During representatives’ questioning at the Prefectural Assembly February ordinary session on 24 February, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki did not announce his candidacy in the scheduled fall gubernatorial election for a second term as originally planned. The governor only went so far as to say, “I have to give careful consideration to getting the understanding of my family and the cooperation of my support groups. But foremost, I’m going to put my heart and soul into what’s left of my term to realize the campaign promises I’ve made.” Claiming to put his strength into realizing his campaign promises before his term expires in September is a step forward from his previous declarations, but a source from his party’s headquarters offered this background analysis of what was left unsaid, “He’s avoiding a shower of criticism from the opposition.” That day was the second day of representative questioning. Representative Isao Zukeran from Ti-da Peace Net, the faction of the ruling par...

On news of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, in response to this paper’s reporters on 24 February, Governor Denny Tamaki had this to say, “It’s especially lamentable that Russia resorted to military operations. I consider it a serious situation.” With the cooperation of each of the world’s countries, centered in the United Nations, in seeking  a peaceful solution being essential, the governor hoped, “I want the Japanese Government to act with a cool calm on this.”  Moreover, the governor heeded such concerns as the huge US bases, which Okinawa hosts as its special feature, and the Taiwan emergency, noting “Even though geographically Ukraine seems remote, this is a situation where the so-called international social order can’t simply be ignored.” The governor also expressed his thoughts on gathering information on the activities of the US Military side. Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Friday 25 February 2022 at 17:02 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/article...

On news that the Russian Army had invaded Ukraine, Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his concern on 24 February in response to queries from the Ryukyu Shimpo, “Smack in the middle of international society’s ongoing work for a solution through peaceful diplomacy, it’s lamentable that Russia resorted to military action.  It’s a serious  situation for Okinawa, which holds US Military bases.” In the past, base security has been strengthened and the movements of US Military in Okinawa have been activated in response to international conflicts and dangers. Regarding the repercussions of the invasion of Ukraine for the US Military bases in Okinawa, Governor Tamaki stated, “As we closely peruse and gather information daily from the news, we want to tune our administration to firmly grasp  how the international situation is evolving.”   Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Friday 25 February 2022 at 12:08. Byline: Shohei Tsukazaki. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/...

24 February marks 3 years since the Okinawa prefectural popular referendum on whether to accept or reject the landfill associated with the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airbase to Henoko in the city of Nago. 72% of valid votes in the referendum were against.” However, ignoring the results of the vote (72% of over a quarter of eligible voters), the Japanese Government has been vigorously pursuing the construction of the new base at Henoko. But there was a snag. In November of last year, the Okinawa Defense Bureau asked for a change in the construction plans it had submitted to the Prefecture to account for a soft seabed. Governor Denny Tamaki responded with a judgment to refuse permission. Last October, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was inaugurated. He, too, took the stance of proceeding with the relocation of the Futenma Airfield to Henoko. The dialog Governor Tamaki requested never came about. Moreover, in addition to the opposition in the opinions of the prefecture’s people, e...

Facing the Okinawa gubernatorial election scheduled for the fall, telephone opinion polls are becoming increasingly frequent within the prefecture raising the names of prefecture-born celebrities to run against incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki, who has garnered attention with his announcement of a run for a second term. So far, the names thrown into the field are celebrities such as Japanese Ambassador to the World Food Program (WFP) Kurara Chibana and the prefecture’s first gold medalist in men’s karate at the Tokyo Olympics Ryo Kiyuna.  A source related to the LDP explained that it had become clear from polling conducted by the LDP, “In order to compete against the high name recognition of Governor Tamaki, it was deemed necessary to run some sort of celebrity.” But the source claimed that no approach had been made such as actually tapping these celebrities to be candidates. However, the Prefectural LDP Headquarters charged with candidate choice claimed sheepishly, “We were never n...

The Okinawa Times and JX Press carried out a joint opinion poll, targeting registered voters within the city of Ishigaki, between 19 and 20 February on the Ishigaki City mayoral election with ballots to be opened on 27 February when the current mayor’s term expires. As for the polling, the emphasis was highest on government policy with  economic policy at 30%, followed by the issue of the GSDF deployment at 23%. Approval for the GSDF deployment remained at 43%, but opposition rose to 34%. As to whether a vote of residents ought to be carried out on the deployment, 43% said it was necessary as opposed to 41% who deemed the vote  unnecessary. Thus, the GSDF issue is poised to become an important point of contention. The two candidates in the election are current Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama (54) eying a fourth term with the backing of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito and his rival, former City Assemblyman Yoshiyuki Toita (52), running as an independent. At the time of ...

The mayoral election in the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture was announced on 20 February. 2 candidates have declared their candidacy. Just now, the GSDF is advancing plans for a deployment there. The incumbent, who is supported by the administration of Fumio Kishida, approves of the deployment, and his rival, who is supported by Governor Denny Tamaki with the backing of the strength of All Okinawa, calls for a referendum of the residents to be held on the subject. It is a joust between the two. With base construction already begun before the mayoral election, the results could have a bearing on the GSDF deployment and the autumn gubernatorial election. Ballots will be opened on 27 February. 39,330 voters are registered for the election as of 19 February. Both candidates are running as independents. However, former City Assemblyman  Yoshiyuki Toita (52) is backed by All Okinawa among others and Yoshitaka Nakayama (54), seeking his fourth term, is supported by the Liberal Demo...

A new declaration and proposals are anticipated to be announced around May this year, the milestone 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan. On 18 February, Governor Denny Tamaki began a survey to assemble the opinions of the prefecture’s people for the event. People can respond on a survey form on the Prefecture’s home page. The survey ends on 11 March. The Prefecture will decide how to publish the findings in view of opinions from the survey of the prefecture’s people as well as from experts. The survey of the prefecture’s people will ask how Okinawa should be 50 years from now. People will be asked for the 10 biggest topics to be emphasized. Among the topics for selection are “our natural environment”, “our traditions and culture”, and “our scenery and landscape.” At a press conference on 18 February, Governor Tamaki declared, “I want to hear your broad thoughts, opinions no matter how simple, even such as a key word you want included in the proposals or declarations.”  50...

Unexploded ordnance including small arms ammunition and such were discovered at Kurashiki Dam, which straddles the cities of Okinawa and Uruma in Okinawa Prefecture. On 18 February it was learned that the ammunition seemed to be US-made for use in the WWll Okinawa Campaign. According to the Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF), a total of 725 rounds were recovered. The location was on a section of the Kadena Ordnance Depot ruins that had been returned to Japan. The era when metal barrel-like objects found at the same site had been in use is unknown. Until the Prefectural Enterprise Bureau determines that the situation is safe with no pollution, the collection of water from Kurashiki Dam for tap water has been halted. On 18 February, Governor Denny Tamaki held a press conference. He pleaded, “The provision of totally safe water is essential for the peace of mind of our prefecture’s people. Are we still stuck with this sort of situation from the past? I want to get the Okinawa Defense Bureau...

Considering the Okinawa Prefecture’s support role in the establishment of the Bankoku Shinryo Council, 4 citizens alleged that the contract of consignment between the Prefecture and the contractor was illegal and sued petitioning that the Prefecture have about 20 million yen, which the Prefecture paid to the contractor, returned by the contractor and Governor Denny Tamaki. But on 16 February, the Naha District Court denied the petition. The plaintiff side made claims such as that the work, which was outsourced, was suitable for the Prefectural Exchange Promotion Division  and the consignment was unnecessary. Presiding Judge Kazuhiro Yamaguchi gave as his reasoning, that a level of expert knowledge was necessary and  the volume of work was estimated to be considerable. He offered his judgment, “It cannot be claimed that outsourcing work is illegal.” As for the no-bid contract, such as choosing the contractor for the consignment and setting 27,000 per day as remuneration for the...

Governor Denny Tamaki held a conference at the Prefectural Building on 16 February. He revealed his plan not to ask the National Government to apply the Spread Prevention Extraordinary Measures (Extraordinary Measures) against Covid-19 after 21 February. The same day, he informed the National Government of the decision. Governor Tamaki offered as his reasons that the spread situation had generally met the Prefecture’s basic criteria for lifting the Extraordinary Measures and the Prefecture’s panel of experts approved of the lifting.  The governor elaborated, “If we adopt stringent policies against the virus spread hereafter, even after the current measures are lifted, we can manage the situation. He requested the cooperation  of the people of the prefecture in continuing to battle the spread of the virus. On the other hand, although there is a trend toward improvement, as the contagion continues among children and the elderly, the governor emphasized, “This isn’t a situation w...

Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki announced his statement of principles for 2022 at the regular February session of the Prefectural Assembly chaired by Noboru Akamine held on 15 February. The governor once again showed his intention to devote himself to realizing the halt of the new base construction at Henoko as a pillar of prefectural government tasks. Moreover, he touched on the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the return to Japan on 15 May this year. He elaborated on the announcement of new deliberations and declarations that verified the deliberative documents which were assembled by Choubyo Yara, governor of Okinawa at the time of the return, and their current status. The governor pointed out the mixed feelings over the return at the time, “The people of the prefecture expected the US Military bases to be on a par with mainland Japan, but even now the situation is a far cry from that.” He elaborated on his decision on the Henoko issue, “I will work body and soul wi...