With dangers still continuing 28 years after the agreement for Futenma’s reversion, Governor Tamaki pleads for “a new conference”. (23ap24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Moth Orchid, roadside Uruma, 21ap24


The US Futenma Airfield stands right in a residential district of Ginowan City in Okinawa Prefecture. 12 April marked 28years since the Japan-US governmental agreement that it be completely reverted to Japan.


However, the expectation at the time of a reversion in 5-7 years has not matched reality. It will take at least another ten years plus from now to complete work on the relocation site in Nago’s Henoko district, where the Government is pushing forward with its construction.


In 1995, a young girl was raped by US soldiers. This situation added to the continuing discontent of prefectural residents over Okinawa’s excessive burden of US Military bases.


In response, on 12 April 1996, both the US and Japan agreed to the reversion of Futenma Airfield, since it was surrounded by city streets. But, there was a provision that “the base will be relocated within the prefecture”. So, the Japanese Government proceeded to push a plan involving a landfill along the coast at Henoko.


However, opposition to any relocation within the prefecture is deeply rooted among its residents. Moreover, the weak seabed in the waters off Henoko is expected to make construction difficult. So, the schedule for Futenma’s reversion has been greatly delayed to “later than the mid-2030s”.


During this time lapse, a huge US transport helicopter crashed at Okinawa International University in 2004. In 2017, an incident occurred of a helicopter window weighing over 7 kilograms falling out and crashing down into the yard of Futenma Second Elementary School.


In his 12 April press conference, Governor Denny Tamaki pointed out, “Their aircraft accidents won’t stop happening even from now. Our neighboring residents have been continuously bearing a huge burden through it all.” Then the governor added with emphasis, “We absolutely can’t accept Futenma Airfield remaining fixed in that place. The Government must wisely abandon its plan to relocate the base to Henoko. Then, the US and Japan, with the addition of Okinawa,  must settle on a site for new discussions. The new conference must take responsibility for the direction of the planned relocation!”


Original Japanese article: Asahi Shimbun Digital, published Friday 14 April 2024 at 14:30. Byline: Taro Ono.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/fb48fdf693e6a800f3fe6238c880b1aea760250f


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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