Okinawa Prefecture will approve permission for soil excavation from bloodied battlefield in settlement with contractor, but will suspend approval if remains of war dead discovered. (25jn22)


Splendor of Okinawa: Scarlet ratsvine, along wall in Uruma, 20jn22


Excavation of soil for landfill is planned at a mining site within the Okinawa National Battlefield Monument Park at Komesu in Itoman. The Environmental Dispute Coordination Committee of the Ministry of Interior and Communication (Interior Ministry) Rules Committee ordered the excavation. 


Having received the proposed agreement of the Ministry with the excavation contractor, the Prefecture issued its response on 24 June. The Prefecture set out provisions such as the cessation of excavation, if the remains of the war dead from the Battle of Okinawa are found. Moreover, the Prefecture will confirm the contents of the excavation. The contractor had until 23 June to respond to the Ministry’s proposal and both sides had reached the agreement.


On the other hand, citizen groups oppose the settlement between the Prefecture and the contractor because it doesn’t change their concern that the remains of the dead may be mingled with the soil to be excavated. The construction of a new base at Henoko in Nago for the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield looms in the background. The National Government plans to add use of land from the south of Okinawa Island for harvesting soil as landfill for the new base.


However, citizen groups point out the possibility of remains of their war dead, mixed into the soil, ending up as landfill for the new base.The claims of the Prefecture and contractor have been at odds over the treatment of remains taken from the areas of fierce fighting during the Battle of Okinawa.


At an unscheduled news conference in the evening of 24 June, Governor Denny Tamaki explained, “The proposed agreement generally reflects the content of the measures ordered.” He further elaborated, “We’ve taken into consideration opinions such as those decided in the Prefectural Assembly. We are responding with consideration of the sentiments of the bereaved of our prefecture and others that soil mixed with the remains of our war dead shall not be used.”


The agreed to proposal cites that, if remains are discovered, excavation will cease for 2 weeks while the remains are collected. In addition, the Prefecture proposes: 

1. The topsoil shall be preserved and, until it is put back in place, at any time whatsoever, an examination of the condition of the remains may be carried out.

2. The area where the soil has been peeled back shall be covered with agricultural sheeting (blue sheet).

3. After excavation is completed, the area shall be returned to its natural order by planting ground cover, such as banyan (Ryukyuan: gajumaru) trees.


The Okinawa War Remains Gatherers and other such volunteer groups have petitioned that the excavation not be permitted at all. In consideration of such views, the Prefecture has issued orders to the contractor for measures such as determining prior to excavation whether or not remains are present. If the contractor disputes the ordered measures, a request for arbitration by the Interior Ministry can be made.


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Saturday 25 June 2022 at 07:04. Byline: Shohei Tsukazaki and Shugo Asato

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/762e56d6ac23bf2053e80e69d384b92fce1ee9d8


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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