Denny in the News

  Splendor of Okinawa: Wax begonia along the Tengan River Facing the summer House of Councilors election, incumbent Yoichi Iha (70), running for the Okinawan Electoral District, held a press conference on 29 April in Naha. He formally announced his candidacy with his eye on a second term. Iha firmly promised, “In order to make prosperous Uchina-’s (Okinawa’s) future and the lives of its people, we will fight to the end for the sake of creating a peaceful Okinawa!” He reminded everyone of the weak seabed at the new base construction site at Henoko in Nago, noting, “The construction isn’t even technologically feasible. I think that, despite all the power of the national administration itself, the new base can’t be considered possible anytime soon.”  Regarding the six years of his first term, Iha stated that, with the Henoko base construction as central, he has continued to emphasize his efforts on Okinawa’s base issue. He expressed his intention, if elected again, to focus his a...

  Splendor of Okinawa: Monks cress along Uruma roadside (TOKYO) What was Okinawa’s change of governments all about? A symposium exploring the current situation and its issues entitled “Reconsidering 50 years since Okinawa Reversion”, sponsored by the Ryukyu Shimpo, Asahi Shimbun, with the general public group Asian Research as joint host and backing by BS-TBS, was held  on  28 April at the Japan Press Center in Chiyodaku, Tokyo. In his keynote speech, Governor Denny Tamaki explained the current overwhelming physical and psychological burdens associated with the concentration of US Military bases in Okinawa. He further touched on the history of cultural exchange between every part of Asia and Okinawa, as well as Okinawa’s wartime experience and its unique geographical position.  In light of those factors, he made a proposal for Okinawa’s future path, “On the one hand we should work together to ameliorate the tensions between the US and China and on the other to create...

  Splendor of Okinawa: Koi nobori (Carp banners) over the Tengan River 　 The 27 April meeting of the House of Councilors Special Committee for Development Assistance to Okinawa and the Northern Territories resolved to request the Japanese Government to lessen the burden of bases on Okinawa before the 50th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japan on 15 May. The resolution was passed with majority approval by both the ruling and opposition parties, with the exception of the Communist Party,  In reference to the present reality of the US bases being centered in Okinawa, the resolution urged efforts to “realize reductions in the base organization and a speedy return of their land.” On 27 April an inaugural meeting was held at the Diet to establish a bipartisan parliamentary alliance to assist the Japanese Government’s anniversary ceremonies which will be celebrated simultaneously in Okinawa and Tokyo on 15 May. On another front, on 27 April, the US Ambassador to Japan Rahm...

  Splendor of Okinawa: Balloon vine, along road in Uruma  　 At its Covid-19 Contagion Response Headquarters meeting held on 26 April, the Prefecture decided on prefectural policies for dealing with the period between 29 April and 22 May. Within the prefecture, the number of infections continues to remain high. So, the Prefecture is eyeing a request for Virus Spread Prevention Extraordinary Measures, although it had decided to greet the especially long holiday period with no special restriction on business and the economy for the first time in three years. At a press conference after the meeting, Governor Denny Tamaki, citing the tendency toward widespread contagion due to the explosion of activity of the prefecture’s people due to the long holiday period, noted, “In order to face widespread contagion after the long holiday period, during Golden Week itself, how the prefecture’s people, each and every one, passes the time will be essential.” He requested people to avoid activit...

Splendor of Okinawa: Alpinia on wall in Uruma  　 On 25 April, a group called “Alliance for the Protection of the Lives of Residents against Organic Fluorine Compounds (PFAS)” visited the Okinawa Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Okinawa Defense Bureau. The group handed over a resolution for a  request for on-site inspections and such of US Military bases, which was adopted at a prefectural residents’ gathering on 10 April in Ginowan. Yoshiyasu Iha, the group’s joint representative, pleaded, “The pollution originating from the US Military just goes on and on. It must be cleaned up quickly.” Naofumi Hashimoto is the ambassador charged with Okinawa at the Okinawa Office of the Foreign Ministry. Touching on Futenma Airfield and the US Army fuel storage depot at Uruma, he explained, “We want to discuss this with the relevant municipalities and the prefectural government to come up with a response. Isao Ono is the bureau chief of the Okinawa Defense Bureau. On the qu...

Splendor of Okinawa: Hydrangea on a fence in Uruma On the evening of 24 April, Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshimitsu Motegi of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) announced his comment, “Following wins one after another in the important Okinawa Prefecture mayoral elections in Nago, Nanjo, and Ishigaki, this is great for our forward momentum in the coming Okinawa Prefectural elections,” following the win of the incumbent candidate backed by LDP and Komeito in the Okinawa City mayoral election whose ballots were counted that day. Okinawa Prefecture will hold its gubernatorial election in September. That election will be determined on the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. The (LDP) Administration  is advocating the move, while Governor Denny Tamaki’s side is opposed to it.  However, Administration backed candidates have won various mayoral elections: in Nago and Nanjo in January and in Ishigaki in February. With the win in the Okinawa City...

Splendor of Okinawa: Indian shot, roadside Uruma (OKINAWA) Ballots are being opened on 24 April for the Okinawa City mayoral election as the current term ends. It is man-to-man combat as the contender, former City Assembly Member Masakazu Moriyama (73), backed by  Constitutional Democratic Party, Communist Party, Social Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, New Wind / Ninufabushi, (North Star), faces off against the incumbent, Mayor Sachio Kuwae (66), seeking a third term and backed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito.   The points of contention have become whether to continue the current city administration’s policies or reform them, with measures to promote the economy and combat poverty. The counting of ballots begins at 9 a.m. on 24 April and the judgment of the majority is expected to be clear by around 11 p.m. The Prefectural ruling party and Governor Denny Tamaki, along with the opposition party of the City Assembly, support the contender Moriyama. Th...

  Splendor of Okinawa: West Indian lantana, on a wall in Uruma Regarding a rape by a US marine that occurred in his prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki commented on why the Prefecture did not make the incident public after learning of it, “We have to consider foremost to what extent the privacy of the victim can be protected.”  Governor Tamaki decided he had to request tightened discipline from the American side to prevent the reoccurrence of such sexual crimes. Moreover, he expressed his reasoning on the need for consideration in each instance when publishing sexual crimes, for the sake of protecting the victim’s privacy. Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Broadcasting (RBC), published Friday 22 April 2022 at 12:54 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/94d89064d137d4e7c2445f04150339237ea5fb92 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 ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Wax plant on a fence in Uruma A design change was requested for the construction of a new base at Henoko in Nago for the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield. Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito recommended that Okinawa Prefecture give the requested certification by 20 April.  On that day, the Prefecture responded by sending a formal document addressed to the minister stating, “It is necessary to consider our response after examining the contents of your written verdict. It is impossible to make a judgment on certification by 20 April.”  At the same time, the Prefecture sent a request for dialogue, addressed to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, on the Henoko base construction. The Okinawa Defense Bureau was dissatisfied with the non-certification of the design changes. So, on 8 April, it requested Saito’s ministry for an investigation based on the Administrative Disagreement Investigation Statute. Saito’s ministry ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Shikwasa in an Uruma yard There is a plan to relocate the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture. Minister of Land, Transport, Infrastructure, and Tourism Tetsuo Saito recommended in a request to the Prefecture that it certify the design changes demanded by the Ministry of Defense. In response, on 20 April, the Prefecture answered with a formal document, “It is essential that we consider our response based on an examination of the contents. That judgment cannot be made by 20 April, the time frame given by the Ministry.” Moreover, on the same day, referring to the “2019 Prefectural People’s referendum which showed the vast majority of the people were opposed to the Henoko relocation, the Prefecture sent a formal document to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida requesting a halt to the construction and that he respond to the Prefecture’s request for a dialog. The Prefecture has refused certification of the design changes. So, th...

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden trumpet, wall in Uruma. Last October a woman suffered injuries seemingly due to a sexual assault. A male US Marine was sent to prosecutors for a crime involving injury such as forced intercourse. Referring to the incident, on 19 April, Governor Denny Tamaki commented, “This is something that infringes on a woman’s rights. It’s absolutely unforgivable and the intensity of my anger at it will remain in my mind. On 19 April as well, the Prefectural Police made clear that the perpetrator was attached to a US Military base in Okinawa. The incident occurred last October. The Prefectural Police sent the documents to the prosecutors as a suspected case of injury due to forced obscenity. But in December, the Naha Prosecutors charged the man with a crime involving injury such as forced intercourse.  Later, based on the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the US Military  handed the man over to the Japanese side. The Prefectural Police explained that, ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Apple of Peru, along the Tengan River (OKINAWA) The start of the Okinawa City mayoral election was announced on 17 April. The declared candidates are Masakazu Moriyama (73) who advocates reform of the municipal administration and the current Mayor Sachio Kuwae (66) who pleads for a continuation of his municipal policies. The election has the elements of a classic joust. 17 April marked the campaign start and call to the trenches ceremonies for both candidates. Bathed in the cries of encouragement from supporters, they clenched their microphones and swore victory. The election campaign opened its curtains with promises of various administrative policies such as combating poverty and revival of the city center businesses. Candidate Moriyama held his camp’s campaign ceremony starting at 9 a.m. at Koza Crossroads. His supporters gathered wearing their characteristic green headbands. After receiving his campaign sash from his wife Kuniko, Moriyama tensed his facial expr...