Among the important policy points of Governor Denny Tamaki’s General Policy Speech: emphasis on US Military base issues, prefectural economic revival, and assistance to women and children. (16fe23)


Splendor of Okinawa: Eranthemum pulchellum, along Tengan River, 16fe23


Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki publicly announced his general policies for 2023 at the opening of the regular February session of the Prefectural Assembly on 14 February. As important policy measures, the governor expressed his intention to work hard on the US Military base issue, primarily in his opposition to the new base construction at Henoko in Nago, prefectural economic revival, and assistance for women and children. 


The governor also expressed concern over the reinforcement of defense capability in the Ryukyu Chain that the Government is pushing out of fear of an armed clash in the Taiwan Strait, and he has requested a detailed explanation from the Government.


Moreover, the governor will study the concrete effects of the reinforcement on Okinawa and consider making a declaration from the Prefecture toward a way to create a peace that both the US and Japanese Governments should grapple with. The governor noted that the environment of the Security Treaty had become harsh. Moreover, he pointed out that the Government had decided on three Security Treaty related documents, but, “There has been no discussion by the Nation’s people nor explanation to the regions. That is engendering great unease in our prefecture’s population when coupled with our memory of the battles on our land.” 


Moreover, the governor thinks that the US Military and the Self Defense Forces should be taken together in considering the reduction of the burden of bases on Okinawa. He pointed out, “With the reinforcement of the base facilities, comes the unacceptable risk that Okinawa will become the target of an attack.” He requested an easing of tensions through diplomacy from the Government.


The governor further stressed the need for diplomacy in East Asia, citing the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine last February. He noted, “The people of our prefecture are fostering the easing of tensions and the creation of trust. But we need to do more than we have so far to get the understanding of the Nation’s people.” The governor also exhibited his intention to tackle regional diplomacy by setting up a “Regional Foreign Office” in the governor’s office.


On the new base problem at Henoko, the governor noted that the people of the prefecture had expressed their feelings of opposition as shown in gubernatorial elections and prefectural popular referendums. He emphasized, bearing down on his words, “Without ever wavering, I’ll stand at the forefront of our prefecture’s people!”


As the most important topic for his Prefectural Administration, the governor gave that place to the problem of child poverty. He intends to tackle broadening assistance for bus fees to and from school for junior high students with high expense burdens due to long distance travel and to expand benefit types for scholarships and free school provided meals.


The governor further stressed that, after the effects of the widespread Covid-19, the revival of the tourism industry and its development were important in the economic promotion sector. He expressed his desire to aggressively lure in tourists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The governor will also put his strength into the advancement of productivity, profitability, and the acceleration of digital transformation (DX) in every industry, such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.


Moreover, with the imminence of the curtain raising in August on the FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Okinawa Arena and other locations, he made clear that he will establish a new organization targeting sports promotion.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Tuesday 14 February 2023 at 11:33

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/211e61ae2947a5acc367be2b8b99c37095728f01


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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