3 years after popular referendum on Henoko in Okinawa, new base construction in new phase dealing with soft seabed. (24fe22)

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, even the Japanese Government itself has come to acknowledge that the new base will not be completed unless there are huge changes in the construction plans to account for the soft seabed that lies under Oura Bay.


The realization of the new base at Henoko is literally on shaky ground.


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Thursday 24 February 2022 at 05:15

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d90454ea19251759450ec1a28e9ba2fbbb715b18


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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