On notification by the Defense Ministry that work has started on strengthening the weak seabed at Henoko, Governor Denny Tamaki opined, “I can’t dispel my doubts over the strengthening of the seabed!” (28de24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Gomphrena Serrata, roadside Futenma, 23de24


The relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago has long been planned. On 27 December, the Defense Ministry announced that,  on 28 December, it would set to work on reinforcing the weak seabed in Oura Bay. Moreover, it notified Okinawa Prefecture. Since the Government had exercised proxy to approve design changes for the seabed reinforcement on 28 December 2023, preparations have been underway.


According to the Okinawa Defense Bureau of the ministry, the work will begin  in the targeted  sea area using a ship named Ptolemy to spread sand to level the seabed. After that, about 71,000 steel pipes will be driven into the seabed and sand will be poured into them, as a method of reinforcing the seabed with such pilings.


The weak seabed extends to about 90 meters down from the surface of the sea at its deepest. However, the Government intends to reinforce only down to about 70 meters, figuring, “That’s enough to insure stability.”


When research boring discovered the weak seabed lay in about 66 hectares of the area to be landfilled for the relocation construction, the Government asked the Prefecture for design changes in 2020. But the Prefecture refused permission, resulting in a court battle. In September of last year, the loss of the Prefecture’s case was confirmed in a Supreme Court ruling. After that, since the Prefecture still refused permission, the Government exercised proxy to give itself permission for the changes.


The Government again began work in the Oura Bay Area in January of this year and dikes (to hold the landfill) are in the process of completion. After the seabed is reinforced and filled with landfill rubble, the relocation and return of the airfield land is targeted for mid-2030.


On 27 December, Governor Denny Tamaki stated to the press squad, “I can’t dispel my doubts about whether they can guarantee the seabed strengthening. So,  I’ll keep close watch over whether the area can be stabilized.”


Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun Digital, published Saturday 28 December 2024 at 09:53.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8af4ffe92d9b396084d63148b5e72aab22ba4019


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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