Residents of Japan’s Sakishima oppose deployment of long range missiles, considering even canceling evacuation planning. (20mr25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Indian Hawthorn, beachside Mihama, 10mr25


The Japanese Government is reportedly considering prioritizing Kyushu for the deployment of long-range missiles with counter attack capability. In response, Joint Representative Takamatsu Gushiken of the “Nuchi Du- Takara (Ryukyuan: Life is Treasure) No More Wars in Okinawa” group held a press conference with others on 18 March at the Prefectural Office. They declared their statement of opposition to the deployments.


A plan is in process to evacuate the residents of the Sakishima Island Chain (Japan’s outermost southern islands) in the event of a crisis. However, Mr. Gushiken’s group is requesting the cancellation of evacuation plans, noting, “If the long-range missiles are deployed to Kyushu, its residents will probably be the first to evacuate. It’s unrealistic for us to evacuate.”


According to the group’s declaration, “If Japan gets into a war with the huge nation of China with its nukes and missiles, Japan will be obliterated. Okinawa, Kyushu, the whole lot are right smack in the middle as a “missile fortification” in preparations for war with China. There will be no guarantee of safety for any movement of residents  within that zone.” 

　

Governor Denny Tamaki also has been declaring his opposition to the deployment of long-range missiles in our prefecture. So, Joint Representative Gushiken emphasized, “Governor Denny has the same opinion as I do!” He further pleaded, “Rather than assume a war by preparing shelters and evacuation plans, we ought to be exploring how to avoid war! In the spirit of article 9 of our Constitution, we ought to return to a way of solutions through dialogue.”



Original Japanese article: Yaeyama Daily News, published Wednesday 19 March 2025 at 04:00

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/670d9aa9897fea9bf75dad02f9055aa32e3f6185



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 the 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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