Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki eulogizes Ginowan Mayor, who passed away in Tokyo, noting, “I’m at a loss for words” and “He was a man of profound emotions”. (28jy24)

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, Chairman Dai Shimabukuro of the Liberal Democratic Party Okinawa Federation issued his comment, noting, “The problem of the return of Futenma Airfield engages a bet on people’s very lives. The mayor’s achievements were momentous. Rather than innermost feelings, I would wish for a show of respect, together with profound gratitude for his hard work throughout his life.”


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Friday 26 July at 15:54.  

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/07349a61d4749b99575e6e177e02f0d744f3f2c7


Denny in the News:

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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