Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Zennia Gushikawa RC Church, 29se24 On 27 September, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Shigeru Ishiba was elected as the Liberal Democratic Party’s new president. On the news, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki announced such comments as, “We offer him our heartfelt congratulations.” Reflecting on President Ishiba’s expertise in defense policy, the governor noted, “I feel that, right from the start, the new president will understand Okinawa’s actual circumstances with our US Military base problem.” The governor further touched on Shigeru Ishiba’s statements during the presidential election campaign, asserting, “Since he brought up the revision of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), we expect him to review the matter to reflect the voices of our prefecture’s people.” In reference to the new base construction at Henoko, on the other hand, the governor requested, “There was also the lack of mention of any response to the Okinawan people’s will on that co...

Splendor of Okinawa: Butterfly-pea, roadside Futenma, 27se24 Shigeru Ishiba was chosen as the new  president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on 27 September. On hearing the news, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki issued his comment, “We’re looking forward to having him get to the task of solving various problems with us.” Governor Tamaki said in his evaluation of Shigeru Ishiba, “He’s outstanding in his experience and vision.” However, the governor also noted, “We expect him to make revisions reflecting the voices of our prefecture’s people”, with his election as party president, alluding to his getting into reforms that must be made in the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which governs the status of the US Military in Japan. Moreover, on the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago (both in Okinawa Prefecture), the governor repeatedly noted, “The lack of response to the feelings of the Okinawan people in opposition to the ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Winged Water-primrose, beachside Mihama, 23au24. On 25 September, the Ryukyu Shimpo Company held its 60th Ryukyu Shimpo Award (for 2024) presentation ceremony and celebration at the Okinawa Harborview Hotel in Naha. About 170 people attended. The award and a memento were presented to the 5 recipients to laud their contributions to  the prefecture’s promotion and development in activities in the fields of meritorious service in Okinawa’s promotion, economics,  business, culture, arts, and sports. This year’s award recipients are: former Senator Keiko Itokazu for her service in Okinawa’s promotion, Kokuba Group Consultants Koichi Kokuba for economics and business, Okinawa University Professor Emeritus Hiroshi Nakachi for social and educational work, Living National Treasure in Ryukyu Traditional Music Kiyoyuki Ohwan for culture and arts, and former Pro Baseball Player Kazuhiko Ishimine for sports. In his opening speech for the award ceremony, Ryukyu Shimpo C...

Splendor of Okinawa: Gaillardia Pulchella, beachside Mihama, 20se24 On 21 September, Happy Earth Festival, an event to promote UN lauded SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) sponsored by its executive committee, was held at the Mihama Aeon Branch in Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture. Governor Denny Tamaki and Actress IMALU held a talk show there on the theme of “Considering a sustainable rhythm for Okinawan tourism’s future fortune.” In her introduction to to life in Kagoshima Prefecture’s Amami Oshima IMALU urged, “If you set yourself to work earnestly toward SDGs in your own bailiwick, you’ll link up with a far better future.” IMALU has been carrying on life since two years ago in 2 locations, Amami Oshima and Tokyo. She said of her life, “In Amami, I just melt into the local people and even take part in the festivals of my hamlet. My house might even be considered a tourist site. But the local people protect and take care of me.” IMALU said of tourism in Amami Oshima, “There’s no point in ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Scaevola Taccada, beachside Mihama, 20se24 16 September was “Respect the Aged Day”. So, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki and Kita Nakagusuku Village Mayor Takanori Higa paid a visit to village resident Yoshi Ota (100), who celebrated her 100th birthday in August. They presented her a certificate of congratulations and a memento of the occasion. Until Yoshi was 97, she had tended her farm, and, still now, she pulls weeds and cleans up around her house pretty much every morning. After shaking hands with Governor Tamaki and Mayor Higa, she shared her vigor in wishing them, “Everybody, go for it!” Yoshi’s first daughter Satchiko Yamashiro (71), referring to her mother’s personality, noted, “She’s always been a tireless worker!” From the time of her youth, she tended her field, harvested the crops, put the vegetables on a wheelbarrow, and took them to the farmers' coop by herself. Her daughter added that so far her mother is ever full of vigor, noting, “She’...

Splendor of Okinawa: Trachelospermum Asiaticum, beachside Mihama, 20se24 Continuing crimes of sexual assault by US troops in Okinawa Prefecture keep coming to light. The stern eyes of the prefecture’s people are on the US Military’s recurrence prevention. The US side has offered a site for exchanges of opinions with citizens and increased patrols. However, the details are unclear. Experts say that the loss of the trust relationship between the U S Military and the local people will surely have an impact on the US-Japan Security Treaty, pointing out, “The US side should stop taking these incidents lightly and has to respond with a sense of urgency. Troop discipline is lax. US side says, ‘It’s a personal matter, not a unit problem. So, we’ll promote more education for the troops.’ However, will that be effective?” On 5 September, documents on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse by a US Marine were sent to the prosecutors. Following that, at his press conference on 6 September,...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crossostephium, beachside Mihama, 20se24 On 22 September, a symposium, sponsored by the Prefecture will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Tenbusu Hall at Tenbusu Naha in the    Makishi District of Naha. The theme will be “An overview  comparing our US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with SOFAs of other countries with a view to the reform of Okinawa’s”. Admission will be free. 　 Governor Denny Tamaki will report on the results of research, carried out by the Prefecture, on the SOFAs of other countries. Then, former Philippine Defense Minister Orlando Mercado will give his keynote speech on getting through the situation of getting rid of his country’s US bases as a member of the Philippine Senate, and then working as Defense Minister to rebuild the relationship with the US. In the second half, Sayo Saruta, representing New Diplomacy Initative, will moderate a panel discussion between Governor Tamaki and former Minister Mercado, joined on the panel...

Splendor of Okinawa: Indian Blanket, beachside Mihama, 13se24. The US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan is to be relocated to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture. A security guard was killed while controlling a woman protesting that move, and the woman suffered serious injuries in the accident. On 19 September, it was learned that the Urizun (Ryukyuan: season between the dry of winter and rains of spring. i.e. Best Time) Committee, made up of members of All Okinawa, which supports Governor Denny Tamaki, and opposition Diet members from the prefecture, issued a  formal letter of complaint to the Prefectural Safety Commission. The letter was dated 5 September. According to the letter of complaint, at the time when demands for the cessation of protest activity and other such obstruction were issued by the Prefectural Police Headquarters on 30 August, the protesters were ordered to accept  the terms presented under duress, “in a warehouse” with neither table nor chairs....

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden Crownbeard, beachside Mihama, 9au24 On the afternoon of 17 September, the 9 candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election attended their regional lecture meeting, held at the Naha Arts and Culture Theater in Naha, the heart of Okinawa Prefecture. This election is actually to determine the next prime minister. Each of the 9 candidates offered their own opinions on such topics as Okinawan administrative policy, its diplomacy, and its security guarantees. However, there was no place for anything like questions or  cross debate of candidate opinions on that day. The 9 candidates in attendance were: Minister for Economic Security Sanae Takeichi, former Minister foe Economic Security Takayuki Kobayashi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshimasa Hayashi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, Minister for Digital Transformation Taro Kono, former Party Secreta...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana, beachside Mihama, 13se24. The US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan is to be relocated to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture. The Prefecture would not approve design changes in the construction to shore up the weak seabed in the construction site. So, the Ministry of Land Transportation and Infrastructure voided its refusal to approve the work. Considering that action illegal, the Prefecture filed suit requesting the restoration of its right to approve or disapprove, based on the Administrative Case Litigation Law. Dissatisfied with the 2 September ruling of the Naha Branch of the Fukuoka High Court, which had continued to simply dismiss its case, on 17 September, the Prefecture went up to the Supreme Court to request the acceptance of its appeal. The Naha Court’s decision was the second ruling denying the Prefecture’s standing to sue, confirming a lower court ruling last November, which had dismissed the suit as worthless. Governor Denny Tamaki ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Raintree. Beachside Mihama, 13se24. On 17 September, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki responded to press corps coverage at the Prefectural Office. On what he got done in his activities during his US visit from 8 to 15 September, the governor stated, “I had an especially great reaction to my lecture at a Republican think tank. Moreover, at my George Washington and Columbia University lectures. I was especially satisfied that the students were so enthusiastic in the questions they continued asking me, even after the lecture hall doors were closed. I want to link that enthusiasm to the universities in my ‘talk caravans’ here in Japan.” On the interest within the US in Okinawa’s problems, the governor noted, “I felt that I was able to make people aware of my main theme, the continuing sexual assaults and the lack of US coordination in dealing with them.” Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Tuesday 17 September 2024 at 10:42. https://news.yahoo....

Splendor of Okinawa: Ramgoat Dashalong, Gushikawa RC Church, 24au24. ( NEW YORK , Kyodo) On 12 September, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki arrived in New York City from the nation’s capital, Washington DC, on his visit to the US. There, the governor gave a lecture in English before an audience of about 50 students at Columbia University. In it, the governor explained about the the sexual assault crimes by US troops stationed in Okinawa, which have repeatedly come to light, and added that this very same  situation had happened time and again in the past. The governor informed the students, “Our investigations are ongoing, but the rage of our prefecture’s people is again ablaze!” In the lecture, Governor Tamaki alluded to the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which includes provisions that exclude US troops in Japan from  the application of Japanese national laws. The governor noted, “Countries such as Germany and Italy control the activities of US troops throug...