To Japan’s request for design changes in the Henoko relocation, Okinawa Prefecture responds, “An investigation is necessary.” (21ap22)


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, the Defense Ministry filed a request for an investigation of the disagreement. Minister Saito judged to overturn the lack of certification. At the same time, Minister Saito recommended that the Prefecture go through with the certification. If certification is not given, based on the regional autonomy law, Minister Saito can issue an order for correction with binding power.



Original Japanese article: Asahi Shimbun Digital, published Wednesday 20 April 2022 at 21:49

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0334b491efbcdc98964d84a7183dbe7f72c08d97


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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