Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Philippine Ground Orchid, roadside Uruma, 4my24 In tandem with term limits coming to a close, it is down to one week before the 7 June announcement of the Okinawa Prefectural Elections for its 48 designated seats. The relocation of the US Futenma Airfield to Henoko in Nago and opposition to its relocation, espoused by  Governor Denny Tamaki, will be the uniting factors in determining whether his faction can achieve  a majority. A furious fight can be expected from the faction that doesn’t support him. This election’s outcome can influence  not only whether the prefectural management tilts right or left, but also whether the governor wins his reelection in two years. Ballots will be opened on 16 May. The current ruling faction, comprised of the Communist Party, Socialist Party, and others supporting the governor, now controls 24 seats. The opposition faction, made up of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, Japan Renewal Party, and others also hold 24...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, roadside Uruma, 26my24 On the night of 27 May, North Korea launched a “military surveillance satellite”. In response, on 28 May at 8:30 a.m., the Okinawa Prefectural Crisis Management Response Headquarters Committee (chair: Governor Denny Tamaki) held its meeting at the Prefectural Office. On the evening of 27 May, the Okinawa Capital City Monorail was shut down temporarily,  but otherwise, no  particular damage was reported. Governor Denny Tamaki attended the meeting online. He pointed out that, although this time the launch report was within the scheduled launch period, the launch took place while the Government was in the midst of strictly opposing it. The governor further noted that the launch was just as Typhoon 1 was nearing Okinawa. So, it is especially regrettable since it caused immense anxiety to the prefecture’s residents. With the preservation of the safety and peace of mind of prefectural residents as his first priority, the g...

Splendor of Okinawa: Begonia Insularis, roadside Uruma, 26my24 North Korea launched a missile and Okinawa Prefecture found itself targeted by the Nation-wide Instantaneous Alert System (J-Alert). On 28 May, at the Prefectural Office, a Prefectural Crisis Management Response Headquarters Committee meeting was held. According to the Prefecture, there were no reports of  damage or such. Governor Denny Tamaki participated online in the meeting. The governor harshly criticized North Korea, stating, “Despite the harsh objections of our Government, North Korea forcefully carried out that missile launch.” The governor further stressed, “It can be called nothing but highly deplorable for it to cause such immense unease among our prefecture’s residents, right while Taiphoon 1 was closing in on Okinawa Prefecture.” Hereafter, the Prefecture will continue to gather information on the launch in cooperation with its communities and the Nation. According to the Prefecture, in response to the J-Al...

Splendor of Okinawa: Tulbaghia Violacea, roadside Futenma, 17my24 The relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, requires a landfill at its destination at Henoko in Nago. Citizen groups, scholars, and others, who oppose the introduction of soil from outside the prefecture for it, have formed a coordinating committee. On 27 May, their committee submitted a document to Governor Denny Tamaki requesting that the construction be halted by not permitting the introduction of such soil. The document claimed that the governor should stop the construction, because it would damage the environment in the surrounding sea with its wide variety of marine life. In 2015, the Prefecture enacted a law restricting the importation of soil from outside the prefecture in order to prevent the introduction of harmful species of plants and animals. The Defense ministry is considering the use of soil from Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. They are looking into the possibil...

Splendor of Okinawa: Yellow Day Lily, roadside Futenma, 17my24 North Korea has announced it will launch a satellite. In response, Okinawa Prefecture held a meeting of its Crisis Management Réponse Headquarters (chair: Governor DennyTamaki) on the morning of 27 May. The meeting confirmed how it would respond. Governor Tamaki ordered relevant departments to work with related organizations to gather information to respond to the situation. The governor urged prefectural residents, “If a projected satellite crash within our prefecture is announced by our disaster warning system, or by radio, television and such, for your own safety, we’d like you to take shelter  indoors.” The Coast Guard has issued a flight warning from midnight on 27 May to noon on 4 June for the Yellow Sea and the eastern waters of Luzon Island in the Philippines. 　 Original Japanese article : Okinawa Times, published Monday 27 May 2024 at 09:52.   https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/9aea4377447634cce57fedc74ef23...

Splendor of Okinawa: Wild Petunia, roadside Uruma, 26my24 Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki held his regular press conference on 24 May. In it, he referred to the Chinese Military’s carrying out of large scale exercises in the seas surrounding Taiwan. The governor stated, “They’re carrying out the exercises with a view to guaranteeing China’s Security. I consider it a judgment from within China. Moreover, the governor expressed his awareness, noting, “They ought to carry out the exercises discreetly, so they don’t invite regional instability.” Original Japanese article : Sankei Shimbun, published Friday 24 May 2024 at 18:21.  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d36ff0577faa5f28cc1200c1d6125878d018f96d 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 i...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mogra, roadside Futenma, 17my24 The Prefecture will subsidize communities by paying half of funds used for free school lunches for middle school students, in a move toward making all school lunches free of charge. Governor Denny Tamaki stated. “This is one step in working toward making all school lunches free of charge. The burden of school lunch costs is high. So, our Prefecture has acted to subsidize them by working together with our communities to make school lunches free for families with children during their 3 years of middle school.” At a meeting held on 24 May, Governor Tamaki announced that from next year, the Prefecture would assist by paying half of funds used by communities that provide free school lunches to their middle school students. For the moment, only middle school students will receive the free lunches. The reason  is the result of a school lunch survey which found that the educational financial   burden on households with middle schoo...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ramgoat Dashalong, roadside Futenma, 17my24 A new base is being built at Henoko in Nago for the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield. On 23 May, Governor Denny gave permission for the Okinawa Defense Bureau’s planned collection of  about 84,000 colonies of live coral species in Oura Bay for transplantation to make way for the construction work. The governor received a directive from the Government to give his permission for the coral collection by 23 May. The Government was expected to file suit for proxy to forcibly take the measure in place of the Prefecture, if the Prefecture did not obey the directive. The Prefecture proceeded to arrange the permission, since the loss of its lawsuit over the coral collection had been confirmed and the Supreme Court would not accept the Prefecture’s appeal on it. On the Supreme Court’s decision, Governor Tamaki complained, “It’s a miserable shame that we were turned away at the gate, without the judiciary expressin...

Splendor of Okinawa: Peace Lily, roadside Futenma, 17my24 Actor Akira Nakao has passed away. On 22 May, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki issued eulogy on the actor’s passing. Mr. Nakao, who promoted Okinawa both within Japan and abroad, served as Okinawa’s Chura Shima (Ryukyuan: Beautiful Isle, a sobriquet for Okinawa) ambassador. Governor Tamaki noted, “His contribution was enormous in raising the image of Okinawa. We offer our prayers for his happiness in the next world.” The text of the governor’s eulogy follows: “I wish to express my condolences with reverence on news of the passing of Chura Shima Okinawa’s ambassador,  Akira Nakao. The late Mr. Nakao’s contribution was enormous in raising the image of Okinawa through his work in media, such as his appearances on television and radio programs, as well as commercials for our Awamori (Okinawan rice gin). Expressing our deepest respect for all he has done for us, we reverently offer our prayers for his happiness in the ne...

Splendor of Okinawa: Cowpea, roadside Futenma, 17my24 On the evening of 20 May, at about 8:55, a US Navy MQ4C Triton surveillance drone flew into the US Military Kadena Airfield. It had been redeployed from a US Navy base in Guam. 2 such drones will be temporarily deployed in Okinawa at Kadena until this October. Okinawa Prefecture and communities around the base oppose the deployment, claiming, “It’s linked to a build up of base facilities.” The MQ4 has the role of carrying out surveillance activities at high altitudes above the sea for intelligence gathering and precautionary observation.    The Triton’s operations base is a Navy base in Guam. However, the aim of its temporary redeployment is to strengthen intelligence gathering and precautionary observation, with China and others in mind. This is the first deployment of this aircraft for use at Kadena. Complementing the deployment, a contingent of 50 personnel related to the aircraft’s use will be restationed to Kadena. In ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Egyptian Starcluster, roadside Futenma, 24ap24 Two US Navy MQ4 Triton Surveillance Drones are scheduled to be deployed to the US Military Kadena Air Force Base beginning from this month. However, one of the Tritons landed at Kadena Air Force Base on the evening of 20 May at around 8:55. The US Navy will temporarily station the aircraft from May until October at Kadena Base. At a wingspan of about 40 meters, the  giant MQ4 drone is twice as wide as the MQ9. About 50 personnel will complement their deployment. Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki has requested the revocation of the plan to deploy the MQ4 drones as a further increase in the base burden. Okinawa City, Kadena Town, and Yomitan Town have created the 3 Municipality Mutual Cooperation Committee for Kadena Air Field. Reporters from this paper on coverage asked its chairman, Okinawa City Mayor Sachio Kuwae about about the MQ4 landing. and he replied, “We will observe its effect intently, in listening...

Splendor of Okinawa: Pink Wood Sorrel, roadside Futenma, 26ap24 The 15 May Prefectural People’s Mass Rally for the Protection of Peace and Livelyhood, sponsored by its executive committee, was held at Ginowan City Sports Ground at 12:30 p.m. on 18 May. In his joint opening address for the sponsor, Peace, Human Rights, and Environment Forum Representative Hiroyuki Some pleaded, “Are these US Military bases necessary? Is Okinawa the only place for them? Our region is not inferior to the Nation!” Prefectural Governor Denny Tamaki stated, “Even though 52years have passed, the US Military bases remain an obstacle to progress in Okinawa’s development.” Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Saturday 18 May 2024 at 13:07.   https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/4f6f82d35f1dad412ebc70d80d144ec495a601e8 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 destinat...