Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Mikania, roadside Uruma, 26de22 (TOKYO) 27 January marked 10 years since the mass rally at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall at Hibiya Park in Tokyo demanded the withdrawal of the Osprey deployment and the abandonment of the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield inside Okinawa Prefecture. At the same place and date this year, the Encircle the Diet Executive Committee again held its mass rally with shouts of “Stop the Henoko landfill!” The committee affirmed that it was united with Okinawa on the abandonment of the new base construction at Henoko in Nago. After the mass rally, while raising cries of “No new bases!”, the group paraded along the streets of Ginza. According to the announcement of the mass rally organizers, about 400 protesters braved the light rain under the cold sky. Executive Committee member Shinsaku Nohira alluded to Denny Tamaki’s victory in last year’s gubernatorial election. He claimed, “The will of the people is obviously in opposition....

Splendor of Okinawa: Parakeet (?) in cherry blossoms, roadside Uruma, 29ja23 It has been almost 10 years since the mayors of Okinawa’s 41 municipalities signed and submitted their Petition (for relief of the burden of existing or new bases) to the Government. In answer to reporters’ queries on the subject while in Tokyo on 27 January, Governor Denny Tamaki pleaded, “Just how long must we continue begging for relief from the base burden? We want the people of our Nation to raise up their voices against the present reality of the concentration of bases in Okinawa!” Governor Tamaki alluded to the 70.3% of  specialized facilities for US Forces in Japan being concentrated in Okinawa. He requested, “We want citizens to understand that this is a problem for all of Japan. We also want their cooperation in asking the Government and their own regional assemblies for relief from our burden.”  The governor added, “At the pivotal 10 year mark since the submission of our Petition, we want t...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ipomoeia, roadside Uruma, 26de22 The Prefectural Asian Economic Strategy Promotion Investigative Committee (chair: Masatoshi Asato) held its 2nd meeting for 2022 at Hotel Sun Palace’s Kyuyo Hall in Naha. After gathering opinions from the 2nd meeting, the committee will make recommendations to Governor Denny Tamaki in mid 2023. At the meeting, ideas were exchanged on the activities of the Prefecture’s Overseas Offices and site arrangements for business exchanges. Based on a survey of enterprises within the prefecture involved in overseas expansion, it was shown that 6 features of the Overseas Offices needed to be shored up: (1) strategy formulation, (2) overseas business development assistance, (3) assistance in matching opportunities, (4) information assembly and production, (5) human resource development assistance, (6) assistance in creating strong, marketable products.  Chairman Asato noted, “In Asia, Okinawa has in place the most Overseas Offices. Our speci...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ericameria Ericoides, roadside Uruma, 3ja23 On 27 January, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki held discussions at the Defense Ministry with Parliamentary Vice-minister of Defense Jiro Kimura. The Government is increasing its defense capability in the Ryukyu Islands which are included in the Three Documents related to security. The governor requested an explanation to the region for the buildup. The governor noted, “This matter is of great relevance to Okinawa Prefecture. We’d like to request a polite explanation.” He pleaded for the lessening of the US Military base burden and also prevention of a recurrence of accidents by US military aircraft. Vice-minister Kimura responded, “The lessening of the base burden is one of our administration’s highest priorities. I’d like to politely explain the Government’s efforts.” He noted that the broad use by the Self Defense Forces of airports, ports, and bays for the reinforcement of the Ground Self Defense Force 15th Br...

Splendor of Okinawa: Globe Amaranth, roadside Uruma, 17ja23 The Health and Longevity Okinawa Promotion Committee Office held a meeting on 23 January  at the Prefectural Office  involving each of its departments. The committee’s roadmap of the state of achievements in 2022 has been published. 25 goals had been set. Only 6 among them, such as the rate of special health checks, the quota for elderly not receiving nursing care authorization, the number of prefecture run facilities with smoking within their confines completely forbidden, met their goals. That is an achievement of under 30% of the total goals. Through the work of each department on activities and eating habits, health management practices, education, and such, the Prefecture aimed at social environment maintenance with the prefecture’s people working together to promote health. However, according to the nation’s prefectural health chart, Okinawa’s ranking on average longevity has continued to fall. In 2020, Okinawa ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Oxali, roadside Uruma, 17ja23 Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave his administrative policy speech. In it he expressed his concept of continuing work on the construction of the new base at Henoko. In his response on 23 January, Governor Denny Tamaki, in the midst of the 26th year since the final announcement of SACO (US-Japan Special Action Committee), was skeptical, noting, “He is totally unable to get the understanding of the people of our prefecture. Meanwhile, he acts hard headedly on the new base construction at Henoko, which has no connection to getting rid of the dangers of  Futenma Airfield as quickly as possible.” The governor added once again his request that the PM accept a dialogue with the Prefecture. In his speech, the PM had touched on the drastic buildup of Japan’s defense posture in the Southwest Region. In response, Governor Tamaki requested an explanation of Article 3 of the Japan-US Security Treaty that the Government Cabinet had decided on in...

Splendor of Okinawa: Bauhinia Purpurea, roadside Uruma, 23ja23 On 24 January, Governor Denny Tamaki held his regular morning press conference. He announced that the US Military would use Shimojishima Airport for maneuvers. Later, returning to the topic, the governor noted, “Based on the gist of the Yara Memorandum and the Nishime Confirmation Certificate, the Prefecture is to manage and operate Shimojishima Airport. Anyway you look at it, the airport is limited to civilian aircraft. I want to once again explain to the US Military side that such has been our way of thinking until now.” He further explained that, except in times of emergency, the prefectural intent has been, up to now, that it would not allow military use of that airport. The reporters queried the governor on the possibility that regulations and such  might have legally binding force on control of military use. In response, Governor Tamaki expressed his thoughts on what he plans to do next, “If it’s necessary, I’m go...

Splendor of Okinawa: Spathoglottis, roadside Uruma, 23ja23 　 Experts have put together a proposal  with the target of a transformation toward a world of plastic recycling. On 18 January, the World Guidance Conference held its third conference of 2022 on the problem of plastics at the Okinawa Environmental Science Center in Urasoe. The committee members affirmed a proposal to compile the mass of opinions gathered since their 2020 conference. The committee expects to hand its documented proposal to Governor Denny Tamaki at the end of March after it is finalized. Besides the opinions of the committee members, the final proposal will also include ideas solicited from the public on solutions to the problem of plastics. At the conference that day, the committee members and others confirmed  a proposal to request setting up target values with fixed time limits in their plans being formulated for implementation after 2023. It was further explained that the committee office will streng...

Splendor of Okinawa: Asystasia, roadside Uruma, 19ja23 On 21 January, we learned that Governor Denny Tamaki is making arrangements for a visit to the US in March. He will visit the US Capitol, Washington D.C., where he will make pertinent US government officials and members of Congress aware of the excessive burden of bases, the opposition to the new base construction at Henoko and other issues. The governor had done such before, but ceased for about 3 and a half years due to wide-spread of Covid-19. The report of the visit was confirmed by multiple sources. Visiting the US to plead for a reduction in the burden of bases was started in 2015 under the Takeshi Onaga Administration. Governor Tamaki continued the visits in 2018 and 2019.  In 2019, the governor held discussions with 10 members of the US Congress. He pointed out the problem of the weak seabed and requested a review of the plan for construction of the new base at Henoko. This time too, it seems he will make the US officia...

Splendor of Okinawa: Petunia, roadside Uruma,19ja23 Preparations are underway for Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki to again visit the US at the beginning of March. The trip was confirmed by multiple sources on 20 January. The governor was re-elected to a second term last September under the banner of his opposition to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both within the prefecture. On the basis of that victory, the governor intends to plead once again to relevant US Government officials for a review of the relocation plan. Governor Tamaki last visited the US in October of 2019. During his visit to Washington, he expects to hold discussions with senior staff in the US Departments of State and Defense, members of Congress and others. 　 The coalition of All Okinawa, which gathers opposition to the Henoko relocation is now in its third term of holding the prefectural administration, if the late former Governor Takeshi Onaga’s term is incl...

  Splendor of Okinawa: Dianthus, roadside Uruma, 19ja23 On 19 January, Governor Denny Tamaki held discussions with Governor Lourdes Aflague "Lou" Leon Guerrero of the US territory Guam. Governor Tamaki explained to her the current situation in which 70.3% of facilities allotted to the US Forces in Japan are centered in Okinawa. Moreover, he asked for her understanding in the relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, noting, “In addition to the plan’s relief of the burden on Okinawa being essential, it needs to be carried out reliably.” Moreover the two governors also exchanged ideas for working together on their common problems as island communities, such as maintaining human resources and the variety of enterprises during the scourge of Covid-19. In addition, Governor Tamaki visited and laid flowers at the monument commemorating the souls of those who died in the war in the South Pacific. The same day, with his visits to Palau and Guam completed, Governor Tamaki was hom...

Splendor of Okinawa: Yaezakura, early cherry blossoms on Mt. Yae, 19ja23 On his overseas official trip, Governor Denny Tamaki visited the US territory of Guam on 18 January. There he conferred with Colonel Christopher L. Bopp, the commander of the new Camp Blaz, still under construction for the relocation of 4,000 US Marines from Okinawa.  According to the Prefecture, during the discussions, Colonel Bopp explained about the relocation of Marines and such, noting, “We’re planning on beginning reception of the troops from 2024, even if only on a small scale.” The colonel showed he fully understood the possible reception of troops was in line with US-Japan agreements. Again, according to the Prefecture, Colonel Bopp explained fully the situation along with an overview of the base and the progress of its development. As for the total work on Camp Blaz, 45% is currently under construction, 19% is already finished, and 36% is still untouched, according to the colonel’s explanation. In re...

Splendor of Okinawa: Egyptian star cluster, roadside Uruma, 17ja23 On 16 January, it was learned that Prefectural Public Office Director Noboru Kakazu (59) had handed in his resignation letter to Governor Denny Tamaki. The resignation became clear through a Prefecture source close to Kakazu. Noboru Kakazu was born in Miyako City. It is rumored that Miyako Mayor Kazuyuki Sakimi has floated a proposal that he would like to appoint Kakazu to an important position such as vice-mayor. According to the source, Kakazu submitted his letter of resignation to the governor at the beginning of January. However, Kakazu responded to queries from this paper with, “I can’t say anything about it.” 　 The timing of the resignation remains unclear. However, between the middle of February and the end of March, the regular February session of the Prefectural Assembly will be held to deliberate the first budget proposal for 2023. It seems Kakazu intends to work until the end of the regular 2022 session and t...