Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, Gushikawa RC Church, 27oc24 31 October marks 5 years since Shuri Castle in Naha was burned to the ground in a conflagration. The restoration of the Palace Hall began in November of 2022, with the frame raising completed in May of this year. The 3 story wooden building (with a height from ground up of 18 meters) is all but complete. Completion is targeted for 2026. The Nation and Okinawa Prefecture are jointly progressing with the roof tiling  and other accouterments. Shuri Castle was constructed in the middle of the 14th century, but has been reconstructed after burning down from time to time. In the conflagration of 2019, the 9 buildings, including the Palace Hall, reconstructed in the so called 1992 Heisei Restoration, were burned to the ground. In this restoration, knowledge newly gained from the analysis of old photos and materials will be reflected. A difference in this restoration will be the relocation of the wood-carved  decorative...

Splendor of Okinawa: Thornless Crown of Christ: Gushikawa RC Church, 27oc24 At Yonaguni Self Defense Force (SDF) Base on Yonaguni Island, an SDF V22 Osprey transport aircraft’s fuselage was damaged during takeoff (trans. note: first reports claimed damage on landing). In response, for press corps coverage on 28 October, Governor Denny Tamaki noted his concerns for general safety, stating, “This is deplorable beyond belief. With this sort of activity, aren’t they just step by step extending such dangerous situations until they’re a daily occurrence right before our eyes?” The SDF Osprey was participating in Keen Sword joint maneuvers around the Ryukyu Island Chain commencing from 27 October. The Osprey had flown from Okinawa Island to Japan’s westernmost island, Yonaguni. On 27 October, while attempting to take off, its left wing struck the ground causing fuselage damage. Flight aborted, the Osprey landed at the base. Even before these maneuvers, Okinawa Prefecture had asked the Defense...

Splendor of Okinawa: White Costus, Gushikawa RC Church, 27oc24 In the House of Representatives election, with ballots opened on 27 October,  the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-Komeito majority was broken. On the topic, for press squad coverage at the Prefectural Office on 28 October, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki noted, “This was a harsh hammer-whack to the ruling LDP-Komeito alliance from our nation’s people. From the view of restoring trust in our politics, this was an especially significant election, wasn’t it?” All Okinawa’s force of opposition candidates, supported by Governor Tamaki, slugged it out with those of the ruling alliance. As in the 2021 election, the force of All Okinawa won Districts 1 and 2, while the LDP held District 3 and Komeito took District 4, in a 2 to 2 even split.  Governor Tamaki analyzed the Okinawa race, noting, “The election was a judgment on issues such as the economy and the military base issues. Districts 1 and 2, desperately defen...

Splendor of Okinawa: Wood Sorrel, Gushikawa RC Church, 27oc24 On coming in to land at the Japan Self Defense Force (SDF) Yona Guni Base in Yonaguni Town, an SDF V22 Osprey transport aircraft experienced a hard landing accident, damaging a part of its fuselage. In response, to the accident in the “Keen Sword US-Japan Joint Manoeuvers 25”, on 28 October Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki criticized the aircraft’s use, “I’ve issued requests to the US Marines and Air Force, as well as our SDF to employ self discretion in the use of Ospreys for training, but they pay no attention. So, having such an accident occur is deplorable beyond comprehension!” Last November too, a US Air Force Osprey crashed in an accident off the coast of Yaku Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. In response, Okinawa Prefecture requested that the Okinawa Defense Bureau exercise self restraint in the use of SDF and US Military Ospreys within the prefecture, “while the basic cause of the accident remains undetermined...

Splendor of Okinawa: Wishbone Flower, roadside Futenma, 25oc24 Revelations continue to  arise in Okinawa Prefecture  of sexual assault crimes by US troops. So, prefectural residents are keeping a strict eye on the matter. The US side has announced an increase in patrols and a venue for an exchange of opinions, but the details are unclear. An Expert claims relations of trust between the region and the IS Military are being let to deteriorate. This cannot but have an influence on the US-Japan Security Agreement.  The expert  pointed out, “Rather than treating these crimes lightly, the US side ought to be responding with a sense of the peril”, adding,“Their discipline is slack. The US side claims, ‘It’s an individual problem, not an organizational issue. We’re aggressively indoctrinating our troops.’ However, how effective is that?”  On 5 September,  documents were sent to prosecutors on suspicion  of non-consensual sexual relations by another US Marine....

Splendor of Okinawa: Marigold, roadside Futenma, 25oc24. The 48th Okinawa Industrial Festival opened on the morning of 25 October in Naha City at Ounoyama Park and its Prefectural Budokan. On the Theme of “Prefectural Products in a Burst of Smiles. How Great!”,  426 businesses and groups are exhibiting their goods.  For the 3 days until 27 October, they will be spreading the appeal of Okinawan products such as food, awamori (Ryukyan gin), ornaments, toiletries, stone, and building materials. The executive committee of the festival expects the number of visitors to be near the 310,500 that came in 2023,  the largest number so far. At the opening ceremony, the Executive Committee Director Noboru Kohatsu exhorted the visitors,  “As a joint showplace to introduce all the industries in Okinawa Prefecture, it has become like an autumn poem, a perfect chance to get in touch with the latest information.” At the Budokan ( a martial arts and event facility), each vendor proudl...

Splendor of Okinawa: Coral Swirl, Gushikawa RC Church, 6oc24 It’s Elderly Respect Day! Governor Tamaki visited some seniors to welcome in their 100th birthday this year and celebrate their longevity. Shizuko Asato called out in anticipation, “Yes, we’ve welcomed Denny Tamaki, but her family calmed her with, “He’s not here yet, he’s not here yet!” But Shizuko Asato of Kita Nakagusuku, who will have her 100th birthday in November of this year was right on in her preparations to welcome Governor Tamaki. Just then the governor showed up and called out, “Hello!” Shizuko Asato gushed, using an alternate reading of his family name, “Oh, Denny Tamashiro! It’s great you’ve come! Here I am, alive till 100, and, busy as you are, you’ve come all the way out to the country for me!” Ecstatically, Ms. Asato attributed the secret of her longevity to her standing in the kitchen to ply her skill in cooking even now and to the fact that she can eat food, regardless of whether soft or hard. When asked of ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Oncidium Altissimum, roadside Uruma, 21oc24 The Prefecture-sponsored symposium “Toward a reversion of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), seen from the perspective of a comparison of those of other countries” will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on 22 September at the Tenbusu Naha Tenbusu Hall in Makishi, Naha.  Governor Denny Tamaki will announce the results of a survey, which the Prefecture carried out, on the SOFA’s between the US and other nations. In addition, former Philippine Defense Minister Orlando Mercado will give the keynote speech, detailing the situation at the time of the US Military withdrawal from the Philippines while he was a senator and how he worked to reconstruct US-Philippine relations while he served as Defense Minister. In the second half of the symposium, New Diplomatic Initiative representative Sayo Saruta will serve as moderator of a panel discussion among Governor Tamaki, former Minister Mercado, Ryukyu University Associate Pro...

Splendor of Okinawa: Narrow Leaf Angelon, beachside Mihama, 18oc24. On 22 October, Reiwa Shinsen Gumi Representative Taro Yamamoto came to Okinawa to give support speeches in its House of Representatives election, with ballot opening on 27 October. He attacked All Okinawa, the party which supports Governor Denny Tamaki and is supported by the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, and others. His criticism was, “It’s been reduced to the ruin of a mutual aid society for elections.” He further expressed his perception, “It’s  role in history is over.” On All Okinawa, Yamamoto pointed out, “At the start, its opposition to the new base at Henoko was good. However, the current phase has greatly changed.” Mindful of the progress of the  “Southwest Shift” in major deployments of the Self Defense Force in Okinawa, he continued his criticism, noting, “With the danger nearing of the islands of the Ryukyu Chain becoming a military fortress, we cannot accept All Okinawa’s function ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana, beachside Mihama, 18oc24 　 (NEW YORK) Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki is on a visit to the US. On 12 September, he traveled from the US capital  Washington DC,  to New York. There he gave a lecture in English to around 50 students at Columbia University. In his lecture the governor explained that the same type of repeated sexual assault crimes by US troops in the prefecture now being revealed had been committed again and again in the past as well. The governor added to his complaint, “Finding this  continuing to occur even now has rekindled the rage or our prefecture’s people.” In his lecture, the governor alluded to the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) which includes rules for US Forces in Japan that put them outside those that apply in Japan. He noted, “Germany, Italy, and other countries apply their own laws to US troops and so keep them under control.” He has requested that the SOFA be soon revised. During a question a...

Splendor of Okinawa: Tree Heliotrope, beachside Mihama, 18oc24 On 17 September at the Prefectural Office, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki responded to queries for press corps coverage on his activities during his 8 to 15 September US trip. The governor stated, “I had an especially great reaction to my lecture at a Republican-related think tank. Moreover, after my lectures at George Washington and Columbia Universities, even after the lecture halls were closed, the students continued to enthusiastically ask me questions and that was especially gratifying. I’d like to get that incorporated into my Talk Caravans at Japanese universities.”  On the interest in Okinawan issues among Americans at home, the governor stated, “I felt that I should transmit to the US the important theme of the insufficiency of coordination in our communication system to deal with the continuing occurrence of sexual assault crimes against women.”  Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, publis...

Splendor of Okinawa: Plumeria Alba, beachside Mihama, 18oc24 The US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan is to be relocated to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture. The Prefecture refused permission for design changes requested to reinforce the area’s weak seabed. When the National  Land and Transport Ministry voided its refusal, the Prefecture claimed it was a breach of law. So, the Prefecture filed suit, based on the Administrative Litigation Act, requesting the reinstatement of its refusal. On 17 September, dissatisfied with the ruling on 2 September by the Naha Branch of the Fukuoka High Court, which dismissed the Prefecture's suit, since it had already been decided at the Naha First Regional Court, the Prefecture filed a petition for acceptance of appeal with the Supreme Court. The second court ruling had supported last November’s first court ruling, which dismissed  the case by refusing to acknowledge the Prefecture’s standing to sue, and simply threw the case out ...