Defense Minister Kihara inspects Miyako and Ishigaki and holds discussions with their 2 mayors in a request for their understanding of the Ryukyu Chain defense buildup. Discussion with governor skipped. (26se27)


Splendor of Okinawa: Flame lily, roadside Uruma, 31se23


(MIYAKO AND ISHIGAKI ISLANDS) Defense Minister Minoru Kihara visited the cities of Miyakojima and Ishigaki on 24 September. He inspected Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) bases in both cities.


The Minister held talks with Miyakojima City Mayor Kazuyuki Zakimi and Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama to request their understanding, noting,  “Our defense posture of reinforcing the Ryukyu Island Chain is an urgent challenge!” This was the Minister’s first visit to Okinawa Prefecture since taking office. However, he held no discussions with its governor, Denny Tamaki.


At Miyakojima City, the Minister mourned the victims of a GSDF helicopter accident last April and laid memorial flowers at a park on Irabu Island within the city. He also briefed troops at the base there.


At his meeting with Mayor Zakimi, Minister Kihara relayed, “We want to continuously reinforce our defense capabilities in the Ryukyu Island Chain.”


Mayor Zakimi replied, “In defending our citizens, there are obstacles that our local government, fire department, and police force alone can’t overcome.” He confirmed the Ministry’s cooperation in such preparations as evacuation shelters and facilities, in case of an emergency. The Minister also inspected the SDF base set up there last March. 


After that, Minister Kihara held talks with Ishigaki City Mayor Nakayama. The Minister informed him that, in October, the GSDF and US Marine forces plan to carry out joint exercises in and around Ishigaki Island.” Mayor Nakayama expressed his understanding, but requested confirmation on their safety.


With the day’s schedule completed, at a press conference in Ishigaki City, Minister Kihara stressed, “I was able to directly confirm the venue of our very front line. That was extremely valuable for me.”


The Minister expressed his confirmation that the front line inspection was his primary purpose. But he also stated, “In the future, I will visit Okinawa Island. I would like to create an opportunity where I can exchange opinions with the local people, including their governor.


As for the shelter facilities, the Minister stated, “Not only is prevention of damage essential, but also the appearance of so-called deterrence.”


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Monday 25 September 2023 at 15:25. Byline: Manabu Toyama in Miyako and Takayo Taira in Yaeyama.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/136dbc944e90aa473bc1dddeb4efa9b463f3a1a9


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. 


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. 


Any suggestion on improving my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


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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