At his Columbia University lecture on sexual assaults by US troops, Okinawa’s governor states, “The rage of our prefecture’s people has been rekindled!” (22oc24)

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 and answer session with the students on the crimes by US troops,  the governor further pointed out, “The crimes are proportional to the excessive burden of US Military bases.”


Original Japanese article: Kyodo Communications: published Friday 13 September 2024 at 09:59.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/79915562556f1bcf41b00ac0ed7fb8075776ffbd


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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