Governor Tamaki expressed his thinking on the sea bed boring for the Naha Military Port relocation with “I approve”, while criticizing parachute exercises. (24au24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Templetree, beachside Mihama, 9au24 


Sea-bed boring for the Naha Port relocation has begun. In response, Governor Denny Tamaki noted, “I realize there are various opinions on this research”, while  expressing his intention to approve it, nonetheless.  


Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki explained, “The Prefecture is quite aware of the various  opinions on the relocation. Among them especially is whether if some aspects are unclear, or others are  doubtful, should I approve the boring investigation?”


In his 23 August scheduled press conference, the governor showed his thinking, noting, “I would still like to keep gathering arguments henceforth on whether or not there are any obstacles in the relocation plan to the overall design for the use of the port and bay at Naha Port.”



Moreover, the US Military gave notice that it would carry out parachute jump exercises at Kadena Airbase on the afternoon of 23 August. In response, Governor Tamaki criticized the exercise, noting, “This will only heighten the feelings of unease among our prefecture’s people and their distrust in the face of historical problems.” He added his frequent  request that such exercises be carried out outside the prefecture or abroad.


The 1996 SACO Agreement states that parachute jump exercises should, as a rule, be carried out on Ie Island. However, since December of last year, claiming that the runway at the auxiliary airfield on Ie Island is in poor shape, the US Military has again and again used Kadena Airfield for the exercises.


If the 23 August exercises actually take place, it will be the sixth time this year for Kadena Airbase. That will be more than the total drop exercises for any year in the past.


(Trans. Note: The excuse that the poor runway at Iejima makes it unusable for parachute drops continually puzzles me. I don’t know why Marine paratroopers can only land on a nice smooth runway.)


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), published Friday 23 August 2024.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d9bcc7c53d251678bdddf0b9dae840eb8bbb6a77


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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