Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Madagascar periwinkle, roadside Uruma, 24au23 The US Futenma Airfield in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, is to be relocated to Henoko in Nago. The Prefecture anticipates es losses in its litigation against the planned relocation.  At his scheduled press conference on 25 August, Governor Denny Tamaki stated,  “I feel it’s a terrible shame that the opportunity wasn’t provided for us to directly lay out the Prefecture’s case.” The governor expressed his intention of carefully scrutinizing the High Court’s decision, which is scheduled to be handed down on 4 September, before considering his response going forward. On 24 August, the First Petty Bench of The Supreme Court (Judge Masaki Oka) set 4 September for its ruling on one of the 2 suits before it. The loss of the Prefecture’s case in a decision by the Fukuoka Branch High Court is expected to be upheld, because the arguments necessary to change that court's decision were not held. The Prefecture’s loss in its ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana, roadside Uruma, 24au23 On 25 August, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Okinawa Prefecture to watch the Men’s Basketball World Cup Tournament. On 26 August, he will inspect Shuri Castle, now under reconstruction. However, in the midst of the administration’s lessening the burden of bases and its push for including Okinawa in its ‘Southwest Shift’ in defense capabilities, there is no schedule for inspections related to the US-Japan Defense Treaty and such. Word has leaked from the Prefecture of its disappointment that no meeting with Governor Denny Tamaki had been scheduled. On the evening of 25 August, the Prime Minister visited Okinawa Arena in Okinawa City to view the game between Japan and Germany at the opening of the Men’s Basketball World Cup Tournament. On 26 August, the PM is looking forward to inspecting reconstruction work on fire-ravaged Shuri Castle and having a circle dialogue with those related to tourism promotion. Those around the PM clai...

Splendor of Okinawa: Whorled Plantain, roadside Uruma, 27au23 Term limits for some Okinawa Assembly positions will end in June of 2024. As of 27 August, Chatan Town Councilman Seiichiro Komesu (53) has committed to his candidacy as an independent for one of the Nakagami District’s 5 seats in the Prefectural Assembly. He hopes to succeed the 4-term current holder of that district’s seat, Prefectural Assemblyman Isao Zukeran (68), whose stance is with Governor Denny Tamaki’s ruling administration. Assemblyman Zukeran is bowing out at the end of this term. With his priority on education and social services, Councilman Komesu pledges, “I’ll work had to solve the various problems emanating from the US Military bases. I further want to  link our revitalization with my plans to promote omnidirectional  exchanges in the Nakagami District.” Councilman Seiichiro Komesu was born on 9 November 1969 at  Yoshihara in Chatan District. After graduating from Meiji University, he served as...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, roadside Uruma, 27au23 Governor Denny Tamaki intends to give a speech at the UN Human Rights Commission when it holds its session in Geneva, Switzerland. On 25 August, he expressed his thoughts on using the speech to bring attention to opposition to the relocation of the U.S. Military Futenma Airfield to Henoko in Nago. At a press conference on that day, he stated, “Without reflection on the popular sentiment among the prefecture’s residents, this new base construction is being forced on us. Shouldn’t we be making public that what’s being done is an issue involving the very fundamentals of our democratic nation? As for the content of the speech, the governor stressed, “First of all, I’d like to bring attention to the problems that infringe on the human rights of our prefecture’s residents, such as crimes, accidents, environmental pollution that emanate from the omnipresent U.S. Military bases, as well as their menace to the feeling of secure well-b...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana, roadside Uruma, 24au23 (WORLD CUP BASKETBALL) The Basketball World Cup Tournament, sponsored by 3 nations including Japan, opened on 25 August. Japan (36th in the FIBA ranking) played Germany (ranked 11) in the E-group of the first league. On the court for the tip-off ceremony before the game, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (66) sent the Internet into a frenzy. Just before the game, Prime Minister Kishida appeared on the court decked out in a breezy Kariyushi shirt. (Trans.note: Kariyushi is light summer wear printed with Okinawan motifs.) As the stadium erupted in cheers, he took a passed ball and even demonstrated a bit of a dribble. After the tip-off ceremony, the Prime Minister posed for a memorial photo with players Yuta Watanabe and  Dennis Mike Shroder. Then, with a wave to the cheering crowd, the Prime Minister left the court. 　 The Prime Minister’s appearance in the court put the Internet abuzz. Comments from his fans abounded. “How did the PM ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Summer Savory, roadside Uruma, 30jn23 Chinese Coast Guard ships  have been making long-term intrusions into  Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Island Chain. Large Chinese fishing vessels, pushing their way near the islands, have also become an issue. At a press conference on 25 August, Governor Denny Tamaki criticized China, “Such actions are causing unease among the residents of Miyako and Yaeyama. They’re casting a shadow over the friendly relations between China and Okinawa Prefecture. Such a situation is totally unacceptable!” However, when asked by reporters, “Will you criticize China directly?”, the governor tempered his reply, stating, “That’s for the National Government. I’m suggesting that earnest discussions between the countries and a plan for strengthening  controls on foreign fishing vessels would be preferable.” As for the Prefecture, it has shown no intention of protesting to China. At the press conference, on the territori...

Splendor of Okinawa: Philippine Ground Orchid. Roadside Uruma, 30jn23. Prior to the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Tournament, a reception was held for those connected to the tournament, plus staff and the teams who will participate on the Okinawan courts. Over 120 people were invited to the welcome reception held at a hotel in Chatan for those connected to the tournament and teams that will compete on Okinawa’s basketball courts. Governor Denny Tamaki reminded the group, “Through basketball, you have worked your way here to carry your spirit from Okinawa to the rest of Japan and to the world. I feel that we should want to welcome you all to Okinawa’s culture and entertainment, with the greatest warmth of its hospitality.” In a desire to give the visiting participants from each country at the welcome party a varied taste of Okinawa’s culture and history, they were treated to a demonstration of Okinawa’s traditional karate and a performance of ‘eisa-’ ( a dynamic dance with drum...

Splendor of Okinawa: Amelanchier, roadside Uruma, 13au23 North Korea has carried out a launch using its ballistic missile technology. On word of it, early in the morning on 24 August,  Prefectural and Self Defense Force staff were alerted and set to work gathering information. According to the Prefecture, as of 6:30 am on 24 August, neither damage nor fallen debris had been reported. The Prefecture had received notice the North Korea would launch a man-made satellite between 24 and 31 August. So, at 8 am on 22 August, Governor Denny Tamaki set up his Prefectural Crisis Management Headquarters. Its staff was put on 24 hour standby alert. So, when the National Instant Alert Broadcast system (J-alert) was activated at 3:54 am on 24 August, Crisis Management staff came to work at The Prefectural Office, one after another. The Prefecture scheduled its response headquarters to meet from 8:30 am on 24 August. However, as of 6:30 am on 24 August, the Okinawa Prefectural Police had reported...

Splendor of Okinawa: White Hibiscus, roadside Uruma, 13ap23 North Korea announced it has scheduled the launch of a ‘man-made satellite’ between midnight on the morning of 24 August and midnight on the morning of 31 August. On news of the scheduled launch, the Okinawa Prefectural Crisis Management Headquarters Committee held a meeting on 22 August. Governor Denny Tamaki urged the people of the prefecture to pay close attention to the situation through TV and radio during the period scheduled for the launch. He further called on them to flee indoors for safety in the event that wireless disaster warnings and such should broadcast an expected crash of the satellite within the prefecture. In addition, he told prefectural employees, “Get to the Prefectural Office and assemble for work. We want you to assiduously gather information.”  Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Wednesday 23 August 2023 at 05:04. Byline:Yugo Okita.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5f003913...

Splendor of Okinawa: Rain Lily, roadside Uruma, 20au23 The Tsushima-maru was sunk by a US submarine in 1944, during World War ll. 1484 of the incident’s victims have been accounted for by name. 22 August marks the 79th anniversary of the sinking. From 11 am today a memorial service will be held at the Tiny Cherry Blossoms Monument at Naha’s Asahi-ga-Oka Park in Wakasa to remember the school children and others lost in the incident.  Words of condolence will be given by representative of the board of the Tsushima-maru Memorial Association, Masakatsu Takara. With their advancing age, the survivors and relatives of the victims are concerned about  memorializing the heritage of the incident. Those involved will reflect on the preciousness of peace and broadcast, to those inside and outside Japan, their message of no more war. Governor Denny Tamaki and others will join the procession to the monument to offer their messages of condolence. During Covid-19, attendance was reduced. How...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican petunia, roadside Uruma, 20au23 After a hiatus of 3 and a half years, Air China, a major international Chinese airline, will resume direct flights between Naha and Beijing on 17 September. It will run a 158 seat flight round-trip, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. That route had been suspended since 20 February 2020, due to the Covid-19 outbreak.  The inbound flight from Beijing will depart at half past noon and arrive in Naha at 5 pm. The outbound flight from Naha will depart at 6 pm and arrive in Beijing that evening at 8:45. (All times local.) According to the Air China Naha Branch, the flights had been scheduled to resume at the end of September. However, the resumption of flights was pushed ahead because of Governor Denny Tamaki’s request in July to Premier Li Qiang for resumption of direct flights and China’s lifting of its ban on group tours on 10 August. A branch office official stated. “There’ve been a lot of voices calling for the reopen...

Splendor of Okinawa: Summer Jasmine, roadside Uruma, 30jn23 From 2 to 4 pm on 26 August, the Prefecture will sponsor a symposium (“An Ideal Okinawa” that takes its youth into account, beyond the existing base issues) to be held at the Miyasato Coconova in Nago. Admission is free. The symposium is part of the Prefecture’s 50th Anniversary of Reversion to Japan projects. At the forefront will be a dialogue between Governor Denny Tamaki and Okinawa International University Associate Professor Hiroshi Yamamichi. The latter half of the session will be  centered on the opinions of participants in group discussions, under the themes of “How do base issues impact your own life?” and “Okinawa and its bases hereafter?”. The moderator will be Peace Education Facilitator Nitsuki Karimata. To apply, please use the symposium application webpage: https://forms.gle/deEsnWxWaQ3mQzA56 　 Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Sunday 20 August 2023. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/01df...