Okinawa Prefecture approves landfill for planned relocation of Naha Military Port to Ginowan. (26oc22)


Splendor of Okinawa: Pink rain lily, roadside Uruma, 26oc22


Both the Japanese and US Governments have agreed on a reversion plan involving the relocation of the US Military Naha Port Bay Facility (Naha Military Port, about 56 hectares) to Urasoe, also in Okinawa Prefecture. On 25 October, Okinawa Prefecture approved the Defense Ministry's plan to construct the substitute site landfill (about 49 hectares) in a “T” shape, somewhat like a hammer, along the Urasoe coast. On the same day, the Defense Ministry announced the Relocation Cooperation Committee will open online with the Prefecture, Naha, Urasoe and others. 


The Prefecture has requested that the substitute facility not be used for such base functions as practice for US military planes or take-offs and landings, as the old facility sometimes was, and that maximum consideration be given to the total environment. Naha Military Port is right in the middle of the city of Naha. It is used for loading and unloading military goods. Last February, the US Marines carried out exercises with Osprey transport aircraft.


In 1974, the Japanese and American Governments together agreed on the facility’s reversion to Japan on the condition of its relocation. In 1995, the Urasoe coast was decided as the relocation site. “2028 or soon after” was the expected reversion date. However, the plan is already 8 years behind schedule. The Prefecture approved the proposed plan after judging whether they could approve the landfill or not. 


With approval in hand, the Government can consider the concrete necessary steps toward relocation, with  an agreement between the Japanese and US Governments on the layout and an environmental assessment. According to the Prefecture’s preliminary calculations, it should take about 17 years from now to get the substitute facility completed. 


Just as with the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, there are relatively strong voices of opposition to the landfill associated with the Military Port relocation. However, in his approval, Governor Denny Tamaki noted, “The Naha Military Port land is suitable for business development. Its reversion is essential.” In response to reporters on 25 October, the governor stated, “The relocation to Henoko would involve a firming up of base functions. It would be attended by unproven construction methods and enormous environmental destruction. The relocation of Naha Military Port adds no extraordinarily new functions.”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Tuesday 25 October at 20:28. Byline: Hiroshi Higa

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/562090ec5d1e77a423d161c7357fa1655cad9770


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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