Defense Minister claims, “If only Okinawa Prefecture would cooperate a bit”, the Henoko impasse could be settled, while the governor rebuts, “Our perception is different.” (13ap25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Garden Cosmos, roadside Uruma, 12ap25


The Government’s plan is to relocate the US Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. At 10 April’s House of Councilors Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani declared, “If only Okinawa Prefecture would cooperate more with us, the more quickly we could make progress in the relocation of Futenma!”


In response to his declaration, at an 11 April  press conference, Governor Denny Tamaki retorted, “The difference in our perspectives is beyond measure!”


On 12 April, 29 years will have passed since the agreement between the US and Japanese Governments on the reversion to Japanese control of the base at Futenma. However, the reversion simply has not progressed. 


Minister Nakatani alluded to the second runway at Naha Airport to prove his point, “The construction progressed smoothly, in fact, quickly. The construction included the same kind of landfill, so where’s the difference? If only we could get the same cooperation from Okinawa Prefecture on this project!”


In response to the Minister’s claims, at his 11 April press conference, Governor Tamaki pointed out that,  at Henoko, the weak seabed extends possibly as deep as 90 meters below sea level. Moreover, even if the plan proceeds according to plan, it will take 12 years before its ready for use.


The governor added, “The Government and I have the same perception on just how high a degree of difficulty the construction entails. Whether or not we cooperate is absolutely not the problem, We would like to make that clear!”, showing his displeasure.

　

The plan went astray because of the proviso that the Futenma base be relocated within Okinawa Prefecture. During the 2nd Abe Administration in 2013, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima gave permission for the landfilling requested by the Government. However, in the gubernatorial elections since then, the candidates rallying around “Oppose Henoko!” have continually won.


Original Japanese article: Asahi Shimbun, published Friday 11 April 2025 at 17:45. Byline: Satsuki Tanahashi.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/597d44d0aad5c87fd3f007e620c696c5fc053558


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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