With the Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election proclaimed, the 3 candidates will doubtless argue their stances over Henoko. (25au22)


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 Henoko relocation. He pledges, “I’ll get the Henoko problem finished off. Then I’ll invest in our children.”


Candidate Sakima, who ran in the last election as well, bears down on his acceptance of the Henoko relocation. But he also emphasizes the “Crisis in  the Prefectural Administration!” Claiming confrontation with the National Government is the primary cause of the economic slump, he touts a guaranteed Okinawa Promotion budget of 350 billion yen.


Governor Tamaki is eyeing his second term. He has received the backing of the political force All Okinawa, which marches to the banner of “No Henoko!” The three spokes of his pledge are economic revival, measures to eliminate child poverty, and opposition to the Henoko relocation.


Original Japanese article: Asahi Shimbun Digital, published Thursday 25 August at 09:07

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/43ac284a70829952a4d5f2852829c74e270ca147


Denny in the News: news about 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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