Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Egyptian Starcluster, roadside Futenma, 26ja24 The music and arts festival ‘WE CAN BE!!—For Love in the Midst of Love —2024 Festival of the Knights’ (sponsored by Quest) was held at Okinawa Arena in Naha on 28 January. With priority given to households in need, single mothers, and the disabled, 6500 prefectural residents were given free admission. On 30 January, Lead Vocalist Arashi Morimoto of the rock band T-Bolan (employed by the joint producers) visited Governor Denny Tamaki at the Prefectural Office. The governor spoke of the significance of the event, noting, “We want all people to truly feel its hope, freedom, and love.” This was T-BOLAN’s first live performance in Okinawa. In addition, there was a performance by the Okinawa Philharmonic, a calligraphy event with calligrapher Shoko Kanazawa and Morimoto, and a dramatic recitation by voice actors. Seating was also arranged for those in wheelchairs, such as Isamu Jahana. Original Japanese article : Ryukyu Shim...

Splendor of Okinawa: Strawflower, roadside Futenma, 26ja24 The National Government’s eyes are focused on action by the Self Defense Force (SDF) and the Coast Guard to protect our Nation’s people in the event of an emergency. In preparation for such, 12 locations have been raised as candidates for ‘specially designated important airport and harbor sites’ within the prefecture, including Yonaguni Airport and Ishigaki Harbor With this in mind, the leaders of 5 outer island municipalities held discussions with Governor Denny Tamaki in Naha on 29 January to request a speedy strengthening of airport facilities in the outer islands. As representative for the 5 municipalities, Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama pointed out, “With the world situation last year, our concerns over the Security Alliance have risen.” He added, “In our position of bearing the primary burden of the security of our Nation’s people, it is essential for us to carry out total preparations to protect the lives, bodily...

Splendor of Okinawa: Evolvulus Glomeratus, roadside Futenma, 26ja24 The National Government is adjusting toward establishing a direct dialogue with Nago City, the relocation site for the US Military Futenma Airfield now in Ginowan (both in Okinawa Prefecture), in order to accelerate the relocation work. The Government’s idea is to broaden the understanding of the relocation by mutual talks on measures to advance regional promotion, while reducing the effects of noise pollution and traffic jams, inevitably associated with construction work. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi is charged with reducing Okinawa’s burden of bases. On 28 January, he visited Okinawa Prefecture for the first time since taking office, to hold discussions with Nago Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi. On the planned relocation to Henoko, along the coast of his city, Mayor Toguchi stated,  “I’ve been raising my voice in apprehension over the effect on our residents’ daily lives of noise and traffic jams from the construction....

Splendor of Okinawa: Eranthemum Pulchellum, roadside Futenma 26ja24 On 27 January, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki took the podium at a class at Okinawa International University as a special lecturer. His class was on an explanation of  the ‘Basic Plan for a New 21st Century Vision for Okinawa’, as well as the issues of the bases and poverty. A student asked the governor, “If the base at Henoko in Nago should be completed, what would the Okinawa Prefecture Administration do? Governor Tamaki responded, “If the base should somehow or other get built, I think I’d end up requesting that I’d like the Camp Schwab garrison relocated out of our prefecture, or, better yet, out of Japan, as soon as possible. Up until now, Governor Tamaki has repeatedly claimed, “We won’t let them build any new base at Henoko!” However, now he is focusing on the fact of the weak seabed in Oura Bay, the site of the planned landfill, noting, “I absolutely feel they can’t get it done”, and such. So, fro...

Akato’s Tiger Fight             To the east of Okinawa’s main island, there are lots of little islands dotting the sea. One of them, Tsuken Island, sits just off the tip of the Katsuren Peninsula.            A long time ago, an extremely strong young man called Akato (Red Man) lived on Tsuken Island. Because he could easily lift up even the biggest of men with one hand, his name was heard all over, even in the most distant islands. (A sabani: an Okinawan fishing boat.)            One day as usual, Akato went fishing in his sabani a (small slim Okinawan fishing boat). All of a sudden a cyclone came along and hit his sabani twirling it up into the air. There was Akato, his teeth clenched, left clinging to a chunk of his sabani in the sea churned by the cyclone, and thinking that his life was over. “Nuts, am I going to give in and...

Splendor of Okinawa: Great Bougainvillea, roadside Futenma, 26ja24 The Government announced that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi will visit Miyazaki and Okinawa Prefectures on 27 and 28 January. He intends to hold discussions with Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki on 28 January  This will be the first meeting of the two since the Government exercised proxy to approve construction work for the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. 　 At a press conference on 26 January, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated, regarding the Henoko relocation, “We’re planning to come to a mutual understanding with the local people. It’s important to respond in line with the feelings of Okinawa’s people.” Original Japanese article: JIJI.COM, published Friday 26 January 2024 at 18:24.   https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/997a7201a9a6c67f5ec6f0fa23ee53ac81314de7 Denny in the News: news about Governor Denny Tamaki. Denny Tamaki is the governor o...

Splendor of Okinawa: Shell ginger pod, roadside Uruma,17oc23 For the first time since assuming office, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara met Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki for discussions at the Defense Ministry on 24 January. The discussion touched on the concentration of US Military facilities in the prefecture, with an exchange of thoughts on promoting a reduction of the burden of the bases. Minister Kihara noted, “It’s one of our Administration’s top themes.”  Governor Tamaki repeatedly brought up his stance in opposition to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. Moreover, he requested, “We would like to create an opportunity for having frank dialogues.” 　 Governor Tamaki also brought up the discovery of cancer-causing PFAS  (per- and polyfluorinated substances) in the vicinity of US Military bases in Japan. He had visited the Defense Ministry to request that the National government bear the expense of counter-measures, such...

Splendor of Okinawa: Rhododendron, roadside Futenma, 19ja24 Defense Minister Kihara took office in September of 2023. However, this was his first meeting with Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki. He is visiting Okinawa  in order to get to work on reducing the burden of its bases and expressed his thoughts on the exchange of opinions.  Defense Minister Minoru Kihara noted, “Engaging in the work of reduction of the base burden is one of our Administration’s most important themes. My thinking is that I decidedly want to create opportunities for directly listening to the voices of everyone and confirm the actual scene during my trip to Okinawa Island.” Although he was informed by  Governor Tamaki of his opposition to the relocation of the American Military Futenma Base to Henoko, Minister Kihara requested that he make an opportunity for a dialogue during the Minister’s Okinawa trip. Yet, in spite of the Government’s abrogation of Okinawa Prefecture’s rights in the approval to proce...

Splendor of Okinawa: Rhododendron, roadside Futenma, 19ja24 The Chinese Consulate in Fukuoka responded to Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki’s announcement of congratulations to  President-elect Lai Ching-te on his victory in the Taiwan Presidential Election. On its Chinese Language home page, the Consulate announced this statement, “We give notice of our strong dissatisfaction and firm objection.” However, during his press conference, the governor did not breach the subject of the Taiwan problem. Nevertheless, the hardline stance of the Chinese side could cause ripples. At his scheduled press conference on 18 January, Governor Tamaki was queried about the Taiwan Presidential Election and such. He replied, “As for the next President, I’d like to express my heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Lai, chosen by the Taiwan people in a democratic election.” The governor also pointed out that the stable status of Taiwan is of special importance to the stability of internatio...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ramgoat Dashalong, roadside Futenma, 19ja24 At Governor Denny Tamaki’s scheduled press conference on 18 January, the topic arose of the 13 January Taiwan Presidential Election and the victory in it of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Candidate Lai Ching-te, who opposes reunification with China.  The governor stated, “I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Lai for his being chosen in a democratic election. We’re very aware of the importance of the stability of Taiwan’s situation in the stability of our international society. We wish to maintain the creation of relations of trust and the lessening of tensions through peaceful diplomacy and dialogue. We further wish to expect to have even more engagement in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” The governor indicated no special agenda, such as scheduling a request for discussions. Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Thursday 18 January 2024 at 13:23.  htt...