On the damage to an Osprey fuselage at Yonaguni, Okinawa’s governor warns, “This danger is only a step away from becoming a daily occurrence!” (30oc24)

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 Ministry to exercise discretion in the use of US-Japan Ospreys in the prefecture. Governor Tamaki said angrily, “Even when we ask them to use discretion, they pay no attention. Having this sort of stuff happen is really deplorable beyond belief!”

　

On 23 October as well, another model of SDF Osprey had to make an emergency landing at the Maritime SDF Kanoya Air Force Base in Kagoshima Prefecture. Alluding to it, the governor added, “The Osprey has been a defective machine from conception. Nobody knows where, or under what conditions another accident will occur. I’m truly concerned about  whether or not this situation, with its danger extending to right before our eyes, will become a part of our daily lives”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Monday 28 October 2024 at 11:31. Byline: Beika Hinata

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3945da496e923d6f24cdff30efe2f63f01531e23


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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