Facing the appeal, “Total preparation to defend our Nation’s people!” from 5 municipalities in Okinawa’s outer islands, requesting an airport and harbor capacity buildup, Governor Tamaki responds, “The problems are many.” (30ja24)

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 safety,  and property of our residents.”


From the Prefecture, the mayor requested budget measures and investigations on strengthening airport facilities, such as by lengthening runways in the outer islands so they can handle the takeoffs and landings of large aircraft.


In response to these requests, Governor Tamaki expressed his awareness of such matters, stating, “There are many problems here that we have to solve. Namely, we have to confirm the intentions of our airline companies and their technical ability to prepare accordingly. We also have to get the agreement of the local residents on the environmental impact and area for airport use.” He ended by noting, “The work of consideration starts now.”


The request for strengthening airport facilities in the outer islands came fro the mayors of the 2 cities of Ishigaki and Miyakojima, and the 3 towns of Kumejima, Taketomi, and Yonaguni.


Since 2016, the Defense Ministry has opened bases successively in Yonaguni Town in Yonaguni Island, Miyako City in Miyako Island, and Ishigaki City in Ishigaki Island, included under the jurisdiction of the Ground SDF 15th Brigade, which is tasked with the defense of the Southwest(Ryukyu) Island Chain. This was to fill in a gap in the Ground SDF posture.


However, Governor Tamaki showed his apprehension over the SDF reinforcement in a lecture for students at Okinawa International University in Ginowan on 27 January. He questioned, “Why are SDF bases being built one after another in the Ryukyu region? They’re building bases where, until now, there’ e never been SDF bases! Isn’t that going to end up making those areas the target of attacks?”


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Monday 29 January 2024 at 18:41.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/18cc8bf6eda9044a51d1ffc91058c77b0d61d93e


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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