Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Plumeria, roadside Mihama, 26jy24 The US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan is to be relocated to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture. On 30 July, it was learned from sources through our reporting that the Defense Ministry will actually get to work on construction in the Oura Bay offing section of the new base in the latter half of August.  The Defense Ministry had informed the Prefecture that work would start from 1 August. However, actually, work will be delayed because the construction vessels that had arrived in Oura Bay had to be evacuated due to the proximity of Typhoon 3. The Henoko construction involves preparing a concrete levee to surround the area of sea to be landfilled by dumping sand in it. In order for such work on the levee construction to get underway, metal pilings will be driven into the seabed. Negotiations between the Prefecture and the Defense Ministry on environmental preservation and such. However, on 18 June, the Defense Minist...

Splendor of Okinawa: Templetree, roadside Mihama, 26jy24   Okinawa Prefecture and China’s Fujian Province are bound by a Compact of Friendship. So, on 29 July, its leader  Communist Party Assembly Secretary Zhou Zuyi  visited the Prefectural Office for a meeting with Governor Denny Tamaki. In it, Secretary Zhou alluded to the history of the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, noting, “Fujian and Okinawa are like kin. I’d like to deepen our exchanges in the areas of education, culture, and tourism even more.” Governor Tamaki responded, “I want to put my full efforts into a regional diplomacy that can contribute to peace and stability between China and Japan.” Secretary Zhou, with an entourage of about 40, has been in the prefecture since 28 July. Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun, published Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 10:50 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/83f4dc3fde7bfa70de0ffb0d137820f2ad6b426f Denny in the News : Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan...

Splendor of Okinawa: Milky Way, Gushikawa RC Church, 28jy24. On 29 July, Okinawa Prefecture Denny Tamaki held talks at the Prefectural Office with Communist Party Assembly Secretary Zhou Zuyi, leader of China’s Fujian Province, who was visiting Japan. The two leaders  confirmed their plan to advance efforts in strengthening relations by encouraging person to person exchanges in accordance with the sister city bond, which Okinawa Prefecture and Fujian Province had jointly signed.  At the meeting, Secretary Zhou pointed out the many common historical points between Okinawa and Fujian. He urged, “We’d like to deepen not only economic exchanges, but also those in   education, culture, and tourism.”  Governor Tamaki responded, “We want to work vigorously with you so that we can contribute to peace and stability between China and Japan through exchanges between Fujian and Okinawa.”  A visit to Okinawa by a party secretary while still in office is extraordinary. Secret...

Splendor of Okinawa: Okinawan Red Pepper, Gushikawa RC Church, Sunday 28jy24  During a business trip from Okinawa Prefecture, Ginowan Mayor Masanori Matsukawa (70) was found dead at his Tokyo destination on 26 July. That afternoon, in response to press corps queries for their coverage about the mayor’s demise on the same day, Governor Denny Tamaki stated, “I was terribly shocked at the suddenness of his death. When I heard about it, I was at a loss for words.”  On the issue of the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield, Governor Tamaki brought up a meeting with Mayor Matsukawa, who said, “You and I are probably at odds in our way of thinking on some points. But, because I feel that we can bring our thinking together for the sake of the people, you as governor for our prefecture’s, me as mayor for my city’s, let’s get on with doing the best we can together.” The governor also repeatedly lamented, “The mayor was a man of extreme profound emotions.” From another viewpoint...

Splendor of Okinawa: Scarlet Jungleflame, Mihama Chatan, 26jy24 Mayor Masanori Matsukawa of Ginowan in Okinawa Prefecture died suddenly while on a business trip to Tokyo. Referring to his passing to the press squad at the Okinawa Prefectural Office on the afternoon of 26 July, Governor Denny Tamaki stated, “I was really taken aback on learning of his sudden demise. When I first heard of it, I was left speechless. I offer my heartfelt regrets.” On the question of the relocation of US Military Futenma Airfield to Henoko in Nago, Mayor Matsukawa had approved of the move. That put him at odds with Governor Tamaki’s stance in opposition to the new base construction. 　 On the disagreement, the governor stated,   “Aside from the point of removing the danger of the Futenma Base without the delay of even a day, Mayor Matsukawa and I didn’t agree on anything at all. I want the National Government to accept my point. Its relocation of the base to Henoko is not the sole policy solution. I hone...

Splendor of Okinawa: Poinsettia, roadside Uruma 26ja24 On 24 July, the Governors PR Conference (chair: Kanagawa Prefecture Governor Yuji Kuroiwa), comprised of 15 governors of prefectures hosting US Military facilities, appealed to the US Ambassador to Japan, the Defense Ministry, and the Foreign Ministry  to solve the issues of the bases that they encompass. In response to the string of assault crimes in their prefectures by US troops, the committee appealed for the construction of a system to address recurrence prevention, pointing out the extreme gravity of the  crimes that occasioned their appeal. Moreover, last November, a US Air Force CV22 Osprey transport aircraft crashed into the offing at Yaku Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. The committee requested that further flights be halted until thorough information is provided on such matters as the cause of the accident and the response to it. Chairman Kuroiwa and Vice-chairman Governor Denny Tamaki among others participated. ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Hibiscus, roadside Uruma, 26ja24 On 24 July, the storm wind perimeter of the huge Typhoon 3 engulfed the Yaeyama region with it’s exceptionally strong winds as it headed west. As of the evening of 24 July, the highest wind speed of 50.2 mps. was momentarily observed at 1:51 in the afternoon on Yonaguni Island. At 2:04 in the afternoon that day, the history-breaking recorded wind speed for July of 45.8 mps. was observed at Tokorono in Yonaguni Town. According to Okinawa Electric Company, as of 4 p.m. on 24 July, the 2 towns of Taketomi and Yonaguni peaked at 1910 households without electricity. 　 As of the night of 24 July, the weather department urged care, due to the occurrence of a linear rain band (band of excessive rain), with a possibility of an increased danger of sudden rain damage happening. 　 As of now, at 8 p.m., the 3 communities of Ishigaki City and the towns of Taketomi and and Yonaguni have 770 homes without electric power. Okinawa Electric will do it...

Splendor of Okinawa: Madagascar Periwinkle, roadside Futenma, 28jn24 The especially large and powerful Typhoon 3 is approaching Okinawa Prefecture. In preparation, on 24 July at 9 in the morning, the Prefectural Disaster Response Headquarters Committee held its meeting. It called for the avoidance of going outside, unless essential and urgent, in the Sakishima (southern tip of the Ryukyu chain) region, and, additionally, of getting close to dangerous areas such as the sea in other regions. According to the Okinawa Meteorological Observatory, the typhoon, maintaining its current force, will come nearest the Sakishima region around the afternoon of 24 July. Due to the rising wave level of high tide, especially high tide levels at the warning grade are expected around the Yaeyama area. In 2015, Typhoon 21 totally destroyed 10 buildings on Yonaguni Island, and this time Typhoon 3 is following its same route. With that in mind, Governor Denny Tamaki announced this message, through his Vice-...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crape Myrtle, roadside Futenma, 28jn24 The continuing series of sexual assault crimes by US troops in Okinawa has become an issue.  In response, on 22 July, the US Military in Japan, in coordination with the Japanese Government, announced the establishment of Forum as a venue for the exchange of opinions among the US Military Headquarters in Japan, Okinawa Prefecture, and local residents. Furthermore, the announcement confirmed an agreement for joint patrols of US Military and Japanese police forces. It also explained Forum as, “a venue established for the exchange of opinions in pursuit of shared goals.” Moreover, mindful of the revelation of continued  drunken driving by US troops, the announcement claimed that, during hours when drunkenness is projected, the frequency of checks for drunkenness will be increased on military related individuals on leaving and returning to US Military facilities. On news of the announcement, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Den...

Splendor of Okinawa: Hibiscus, Gushikawa RC Church, 21jy24 　 Considering the stream of confirmed sexual assault crimes by US troops stationed in Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki will visit the US within this year. Prefectural officials confirmed on 16 July that the governor has entered into arrangements on how to directly request relevant US government authorities in order to prevent a recurrence of such crimes. According to the officials, the US trip had been scheduled for prior to March next year. However, prompted by the crimes, the voyage was retargeted for as soon as possible. Since he took office in 2018, Governor Denny Tamaki has repeatedly visited the US, standing in opposition to the Japanese Government’s plan to relocate the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. According to the Prefecture, if this visit is realized, it will be the governor’s fourth visit since March of last year. In June, local media revealed that US troops had committed...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crepe Ginger, Gushikawa RC Church,  21jy24 . A fatal accident occurred at a protest action in the vicinity of Awa Pier in Nago, related to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield to Henoko in that city. In reference to the accident, during general questioning at the 16 July Prefectural Assembly session, voices were raised pointing out that dangerous protest activities were still being carried out at Motobu Port in Shiogawa Town. Governor Denny Tamaki replied, “The transport of sand in and out of both Awa Pier and Shiogawa Port has currently been halted. We’re awaiting a report from the ongoing investigation and the confirmation of its results.” The loading of sand to be used in the landfill for the Henoko relocation was being carried out at Motobu Port, but opponents of the action have continued their protest activities. In February of last year, following actions that had obstructed dump trucks and such in their comings and goings, the Prefecture in...