50 thousand signatures from the Capital Liaison Committee and others against new base construction at Henoko were handed to Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki in support of his refusal to permit base design changes. (17mr22)


On 15 March,  in response to the new base construction at Henoko, the Capital Liaison Committee “Don’t dump rubble in Henoko’s sea” handed Governor Denny Tamaki over 50 thousand signatures in support of the Prefecture’s decision to reject the Japanese Government‘s request for base design changes.


Takamatsu Gushiken, representing Gama Fuya-, a volunteer group for collecting the bones of war dead, took part in handing over the signatures. The group is opposed to digging up rubble for landfill from the south of Okinawa Island rife with war remains. The group further requested that the governor bring up  their proposal on the rubble problem at the National Governors Conference. Governor Tamaki answered, “If possible, I’d like to examine with you whether I can submit your proposal to the National Governors Conference and how we can frame it as a national issue.”


Jinshiro Motoyama, who played a central role in the 2019 referendum of the people of the prefecture on whether or not to oppose the landfill at Henoko in Nago while still a college student, was on hand for the presentation of signatures. Governor Tamaki stated, “The significance of the vote of the prefecture’s people doesn’t just fade away. I will strongly press that the Japanese Government must respond to its results. I intend to demand that democratic procedures, which aim for solutions through dialogue, be followed.


The collection of signatures began on the Internet site Change.org in June of 2021. After Governor Tamaki announced his rejection of the changes last November, the number of signatures increased. By last December, the 50 thousand signature mark had been surpassed. Signatures poured in, not just from within Japan, but from 40 countries and regions, such as the US and Europe, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.


Mikiko Gaima from the Liaison Committee noted, “We want to let it be known that multitudes of people from every country in the whole world support us.”

　

Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Thursday 17 March 2022 at 12:17. Byline: Mariko Nakamura 

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/01ebaae61ea226ce055c37361edc975f5f69015c


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.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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