US Headquarters announces a change of schedule, “Henoko won’t be completed until 2037 at the earliest.” (10no23)

Splendor of Okinawa: Rain lily, roadside Uruma, 11oc23 


The U.S. Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan is scheduled to be relocated to Henoko in Nago , both in Okinawa. However, the US Military Headquarters in Okinawa confirmed on 7 November in its briefing to a news organization related to U.S. Military activities, its expectation, “The alternate facility won’t be completed until at least 2035.”


On the strategic value of the chosen site, the HQ added, “Futenma is far superior to Henoko”, noting also that the weak seabed along the Henoko coast at the site of the planned landfill will have to be reinforced. So, even if the consent of Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki were to be obtained, the Defense Ministry itself estimates that, from the start of reinforcement work to the availability of the base, it will take 12 years.


At the briefing held at Futenma Airfield, the US Military HQ noted that the completion would be in 2037 ‘at the earliest’.


As for the V-shaped runway design and such, from a personal standpoint, the HQ observed, “We think there probably will be changes due to budgetary and political considerations.”


In addition, the HQ explained that Futenma Airfield is located on a high plateau on Okinawa Island’s west coast. So, the site is ‘ideal’ for keeping watch with radar and such on the surrounding sea and sky for any increase in the activity of China or others.


On the other hand, Henoko is on the east side of Okinawa, where  mountains preclude the observation of such activities.


The US Military HQ also brought up positive points, such as that the new base at Henoko will add to its port and harbor plus large-scale refueling facilities. 


However, the myriad ‘negative aspects’ of the area for military use were also pointed out, such as the runway being only 2 ⁄ 3 the length of Futenma’s. In summary, “From a genuine military point of view, Futenma is far superior.”


Unfortunately, Futenma Airfield is right smack in the middle of a city. So, its return to Okinawa was agreed between the US and Japanese Governments in 1996. But the condition was that it be relocated in Okinawa Prefecture. So, the Japanese Government has been pushing for relocation work along the coast at the  US Military Camp Schwab in Henoko.


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Tuesday 7 November 2023 at 20:37. Byline: Hiroshi Higa.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2e562fa2b64c4599ade11601317a6865aa7aa046


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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