Henoko is sure to be the gathering point for the faction supporting Governor Tamaki to gain a majority in the coming Okinawa Prefectural Assembly elections. (30my24)

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 seats. However, bills submitted by the Prefecture get decisively passed, since the opposition chief cannot vote.


With the Henoko relocation sure to come up, Komeito with its 2 seats may even change its stance to opposition, uncharacteristically out of line with its party headquarters.  That could make 26 seats for those opposed to Henoko.


Original Japanese article: Kyodo Communications, published Thursday 30 May 2024 at 18:10.   https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/14d67661a8ad924045e6fac2c88587b23a61abeb


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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