A rally of 1,200 protests GSDF training ground plan in Okinawa, requesting its abandonment by Defense Ministry. (21mr24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Brazilian Button Bush, roadside Nago, 8mr24


The Defense Ministry has a plan to construct a Ground Self Defense (GDSF) training ground on the vacant site of a golf course in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture.


However, on 20 March, a rally was held at the Uruma Community Hall to oppose the plan. The rally sponsors, including city and prefectural assembly members, as well related neighborhood council members, announced that around 1,200 protesters participated.


The rally adopted a resolution requesting Defense Minister Minoru Kihara to abandon the plan, claiming, “The opinions of our residents are being  totally neglected. It’s a sloppy plan!”.


At the rally, citizens’ representative, part-time employee Shiho Fuchaku, (48) complained, “Why are they building it in our peaceful neighborhood?”, and referenced the 1959 crash of a US Military aircraft, while under US occupation, which killed 17 children at the local Prefectural Miyamori Elementary School. Applause arose from the hall, crowded to the walls, as Fuchaku, her voice strained, cried out, “We must never forget the tragedy of Miyamori Elementary!”


Even Uruma Mayor Masato Nakamura, who at first maintained a show of neither approval nor disapproval, participated in the enthusiasm of the protest activities, raising his voice to cry out, “Let’s send the Government our feelings of steadfast opposition on this!”


Governor Denny Tamaki also sent a message to the rally, stating his agreement with its declaration.


Former elementary school teacher Seiyu Naka (69) from Haebaru, a participant , stated, “Even though Okinawa gets no progress on the return of US Military base land, military fortification advances under the guise of defense reinforcement. If we don’t raise our voices here and now, the Defense Ministry, without a thought for the welfare of our residents in its plans,  will do this over and over again in other ways.”


In the Defense Ministry 2024 budget proposal, the money for the purchase of the vacant golf course site has already been included. Since the GSDF 15th Brigade, stationed in Naha, is to be reinforced to division level, the addition of the training ground was taken for granted. Actual work on the new training ground construction is planned for 2026.


However, the site is adjacent to residential streets and a facility for nature study and research. So, the opposition activity is widespread. Unanimous resolutions have been passed with documents of opinion for reversion to the status of a blank sheet by the Prefectural Assembly and total abandonment by the Uruma City Assembly.


For its part, the Defense Ministry claims, “We’re still considering how to use the site after its purchase.” However it denies any start from scratch at this point.



Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 20:07. Byline: Hiroshi Higa.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b8f49bbfcfa46618d98ca27c6935521dcacab580


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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