Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Pink lady, roadside Uruma 29au22 (GINOWAN) Ballots will be opened on 11 September in the Okinawa Prefecture Ginowan Mayoral Election. Chairman of the “9-29 Mass Rally Group” Harumasa Nakanishi (61) has announced his candidacy as a contender in the race with support from the Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Masses Party, Ninufa-bushi (North Star) Party, and Reiwa (Orderly Peace) Party. On 29 August, Nakanishi held a general action mass rally at Nagat Crossroads in Ginowan. He publicly called for the complete elimination of the US Military Futenma Airfield, pledging, “We’ll get back our safe skies and water from the pollution of the US Military machines and their PFOS!” Touting his themes of free school lunches and health care through to high school graduation, Nakanishi proclaimed, “We’re going to put our backs into building our community with children at its core!” Cheering him on were House of Representat...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican creeper, wall in Uruma, 29au22 As of this time, over 17,000 votes have already been cast during the early voting period for the Prefectural Gubernatorial Election, with votes to be opened on 11 September. The 3 candidates in the Prefectural Gubernatorial Election, all running as independents, are contenders former House of Councilors Member Mikio Shimoji and former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima against incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki. According to the Prefectural Board of Elections, in the 3 days since early voting began on 26 August to  28 August, 17,106 voters had already finished casting their ballots, 1.45% of all eligible voters. That is the second highest pace ever at this point in the early balloting period. However, it is about 3,700 fewer voters and a drop of 0.35 points in the voting rate, when compared to the 2018 Prefectural Gubernatorial election in the same period of early voting. The main reason given for the initial turnout being lower th...

Splendor of Okinawa: Purple heart, roadside Uruma, 29au22 The Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election, with ballots to be opened on 11 September, was promulgated on 25 August. In response, Ryukyu Shimpo joined with Okinawa TV and JX Communications, and the 3 media companies conducted a telephone opinion survey between 26 and 28 August on eligible voters across the prefecture to grasp the situation in the opening stage of the election campaign. From the standpoint of this paper’s coverage, the survey produced the following results. Current Governor Denny Tamaki (62), running as an independent, is the front runner, with backing from the Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Masses Party, Ninufa-bushi (North Star) Party, and Reiwa (Orderly Peace) Party. Next, also running as an independent, but with backing from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, is former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima (58). Former House of Councilors Me...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lagerstroemia speciosa, roadside Uruma, 18au22 The Gubernatorial Election, with ballots to be opened on 11 September, has taken on the aspect of a dogfight of three, as 27 September welcomes the first weekend since the campaign was proclaimed. The three candidates are contenders former House of Councillors Member Mikio Shimoji (61) and former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima (58, backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito) squared off against incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki (62, supported by the force of All Okinawa). All 3 are out making the rounds of street corners to appeal their key policies to the voters. Candidate Shimoji made impromptu speeches centered in the southern part of Okinawa Island. He made his appeal on his solution to the Henoko problem and governmental issues he has raised as his pillars, such as free child education. At a street corner in the Yaesu District, he swore, “I’ll have no administration, unless it produces results.” In the afterno...

Splendor of Okinawa: Cypress vine, roadside Uruma, 28jy22 The National government has produced a plan for revising its grasp on the total number of Covid-19 victims on the judgment of prefectural level entities. Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki offered his response to the plan’s possibility at a press conference on 26 August. He stated, “We’ll prudently consider it.” On 27 August, the governor held a meeting of experts. Based on the opinions of the members, he will make his judgments. The governor stated, “We’ve been shown the settled national plan. But it’s essential to confirm it by going over the details.” The Ministry of Labor and Health has offered the new plan for reporting, to the extent possible, Covid-19 outbreaks among people at high risk of the disease, such as the elderly, by prefectural level entities. As soon as within this month, the names of prefectural level entities that have suitably applied for the plan will be published and the plan may possibly be put in a...

Splendor of Okinawa: Callicarpa, roadside Uruma, 28jy22 With the term ending, the 14th Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election was proclaimed on 25 September. The 3 candidates by order of notification are: former House of Councilors Member Mikio Shimoji (61) running as an independent, former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima (58) also running as an independent but with backing from the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, and incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki (62), who too is running as an independent, though backed by  the Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Masses Party, Ninufa-bushi (North Star) Party, and Reiwa (Orderly Peace) Party. The powder is lit on 17 days of electioneering, with the touch points being their response to issues such as the new base construction at Henoko in Nago to accommodate the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan and measures against Covid-19. From 26 August, early voting began i...

Splendor of Okinawa: Chinese Hibiscus, wall in Uruma, 23au22 In accordance with the end of the term, the Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election was proclaimed on 25 August. As of 9 a.m. that day, 3 contestants had filed their candidacy, all as independents: former State Minister Charged with Postal Privatization Mikio Shimoji (61), former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima (58) with backing from the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, and incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki (62) This year marks the pivotal 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s Reversion to Japan. For the 7th time in gubernatorial elections, the planned relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago has once again bubbled up, with the relocation as certainly the crucial point of contention. But the arguments will also expand to other policies, such as economics and the response to Covid-19. Ballots will be counted on 11 September. 　 Candidate Shimoji claims to have a proposal to review one part of the He...

Splendor of Okinawa: Cape leadwort, on wall in Uruma, 23au22 Office terms are about up. On 25 August, the Prefectural Gubernatorial Election will be proclaimed, with the opening of ballots on 11 September. 3 contenders have publicly announced their candidacy. Incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki (62), has been nominated by the Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Masses Party, Ninufa-bushi (North Star) Party, and Reiwa (Orderly Peace) Party. Former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima (58) was selected by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito. Former Diet Representative Mikio Shimoji (61) is an independent. Others also are making moves directed at entering the race. But it looks to be the start of a fierce election battle centered on the top 3, with the battle lines drawn along the US Military base issues and economic policies. For the first time, 11 September will also be a day piled with the opening of ballots in unified local elect...

Splendor of Okinawa: Spider lily, roadside Uruma, 23au22 All Okinawa has formally decided to put its force behind Takeharu Onaga (35) in the Naha Mayoral Election, and current Naha Mayor Mikiko Shiroma has been appointed chief of the committee to re-elect incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki who is seeking re-election as Okinawa Prefectural Governor. At a press conference in Naha on 21 August, Mayor Shiroma stated, “Until the gubernatorial election is over (i.e. after the election), I’ll keep my distance. I’m not yet at the stage of deciding who to support.” Thus, she did not declare her support for a candidate There are two candidates in the Naha Mayoral Election. One is Prefectural Assembly Representative Takeharu Onaga, second son of the late Governor Takeshi Onaga, the All Okinawa standard-bearer. The other is Vice-mayor Satoru Chinen (58) who has served closely with Mayor Shiroma in such roles as secretary and office director. But the Liberal Democratic Party seems increasingly likely ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ashanti blood, wall in Uruma, 22au22 Ballots will be opened on 23 October in the Naha Mayoral Election. The Candidate Selection Committee of the All Okinawa forces held its meeting on 21 August. The committee agreed to back Prefectural Representative Takeharu Onaga (35), second son of the late Governor Takeshi Onaga, for Naha Mayor. The Selection Committee held a press conference on 22 August. After the selection is formally announced, the committee will request Takeharu to be their candidate shortly thereafter. At a press conference in Naha on 21 August, Takeharu stated, “Since I’ve yet to get word of this, I can’t comment.” However, sources claim Takeharu has been going around talking up his intention of becoming a candidate. According to Selection Committee members present, Takeharu was one of three considered. But, Vice-mayor Kengo Kuba (64) declined, and the other Vice-mayor Satoru Chinen (58) was excluded on political considerations, such as his stance on the...

Splendor of Okinawa: Engiron, roadside Uruma, 22jn22 The National Local Law Dispute Commission voided Okinawa Prefecture‘s suit. In response, on 19 August, Governor Denny Tamaki announced comments such as, “It’s a terrible shame that it’s come to this sort of result, with our Prefecture’s claim going unrecognized.” 　 In his comments, the governor stressed that he pledged, in the declaration that he had made in July, that the new base construction at Henoko in Nago, whose waste will continue for years unknown from now, will not be accepted. The governor stated, “The commission was established to give a third party fair and impartial judgment. The Prefecture went expecting a role in stating its views. As of now, the Prefecture has to consider how to respond to have its claims acknowledged. We’ll come up with a suitable response.” Governor Tamaki responded to queries from the press corps in Ishigaki City, “I want to consider the next steps after considerable self reflection,” As to whethe...

Splendor of Okinawa: Blue trumpet vine, roadside Uruma, 28jy22 Governor Denny Tamaki participated in the online National Governors Conference on 18 August. In his speech, he advocated the Governors Conference proposal to request the National Government for measures to lessen burdens, such as by avoiding spikes in electricity prices.  Governor Tamaki expressed his concern, “With the spike in fuel prices and such, electric companies nationwide are being crunched with expenses. If this situation continues, businesses will inevitably suffer for the worse.” As a further opinion, the governor added, “The sudden rise in electricity prices is directly linked to the livelihood of the nation’s people. The people of our nation are fatigued with the terror of Covid-19 and apprehensive about being compelled to carry additional burdens by businesses.” After composing its declaration on 8 topics, such as “resources for energy and  the expansion of measures against the sudden spike in commodi...