Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki “takes seriously” the establishment of an Assembly Investigation Commission, reflecting on the Prefectural Assembly, stalled on the issue of the Washington Office. (21de24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Neverdie, roadside Futenma, 16de24


Okinawa Prefecture’s setting up of a resident office in Washington DC has become a serial problem. So, the Prefectural Assembly has established a special investigative committee called the Assembly Investigative Commission.


In response, on 20 December, Governor Denny Tamaki stated that he would “take their effort seriously.” Moreover, if he is requested to appear before the commission, he claimed, “I will judge on that appropriately, when we’ve got the relevant laws clarified.”


The Prefectural Assembly has stalled again and again over the administration’s responses regarding the Washington Office.


Explaining his position, Governor Tamaki stated, “I have to reflect on the confusion that has arisen at the Assembly.” He further stressed, “We plan to regain trust in public service. We further want, as best as possible, to explain the situation in a manner as simply as possible for our prefecture’s people to understand.


In April of 2014, under the auspices of Former Governor Takeshi Onaga, who opposed the relocation of Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago as a solution to the US Military base problem, the DC Office was established.


According to the Prefecture, opinions have surfaced from the US State Department that the establishment of the office as a non-profit business was inappropriate. So, on the advice of US legal counsel, the Prefecture registered the Office as its wholly owned joint-stock company, called Washington DC Office.


Moreover, when acquiring work visas for the resident staff, documents at variance from the truth were submitted, and,in addition, it has come to light that there was negligence in recording public funds when capital in the amount of $1,000 was paid out as a commission.


Governor Tamaki admitted his awareness of such issues, noting, “At the time of the office’s establishment, it seems that arrangements for paperwork had to be rushed.”


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Friday 20 December 2024 at 17:42.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7123675add47ab95041fbd833d5a35ca81215581


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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