Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa  Flaming Katy, roadside Uruma, 23de24 Based on the Okinawa Prefecture Public Announcement of Gubernatorial Assets and Such Regulation, on 30 June, the Prefecture publicly reported Governor Denny Tamaki’s income and such for 2024. The governor’s salary was 17,053,500 yen. Compared to 2023, that was a drop of 405,900 yen. The drop in salary occurred due to an administrative penalty for improper accounting under the jurisdiction of the Civil Engineering and Construction Department. As a result, the governor’s 2024 salary  was cut by 15%  from January through March. 　 The assets report can be viewed at the Prefectural Administration Information Center on the 2nd floor of the Prefectural Office. Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Monday 30 June 2025 at 09:12 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6ace13f8b4718bac648656889d42681dcc1e416a Denny in the News: Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important...

Splendor of Okinawa: Silver Cockscomb, roadside Uruma, 13fe24 Organized fighting in the Okinawa Campaign ended on 23 June, 1945, now memorialized as “Souls Day”, when the over 200,000 war dead are mourned and, across all of Okinawa Prefecture, a moment of silence is coupled with an oath for peace.  At the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City’s Mabuni District, services, sponsored by the Prefectural Assembly, are held for all the war dead in Okinawa. With the 80th year since the end of the war seen as pivotal, and in the midst of the issue of continuing statements on the significance of the history of the Okinawa Campaign,  voices still rise up from the prefectural people who experienced the horrors of that land battle, requesting continually to the world to heed the facts and lessons of war. At the memorial service, Governor Denny Tamaki issued his Peace Address, noting, “In the spirit of all the world’s nations, we would like to contribute to the realization of everlasting pea...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ramgoat Dashalong, roadside Uruma, 15jn25 On 23 June, the “80th War End Anniversary Memorial Service for All the War Dead in Okinawa” was held on “Souls Day” at Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni in Itoman. Governor Denny Tamaki noted in his address, “While those with the experience of that war carry their wounds in their hearts, the facts and the lessons of the tragic Okinawa Campaign are a witness that endures to be broadcast to our future generations. Through the unrelenting efforts of those researching the Okinawa Campaign, that witness continues on to this day. Be that as it may, the bedrock of it all is that we the people of this prefecture long for peace.” The governor further noted that this year is the 80th since the end of the war. Yet, activities to rewrite its history by politicians and others, one after another, cause concern.  So, he confirmed that he would establish an “international Peace Institute”, as a research site linked to the creation of inter...

Splendor of Okinawa: Greater Periwinkle, roadside Uruma,1jn25 Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ishijima was the commander of the Japanese 32nd Army during the Okinawa Campaign of World War Two. Before he committed seppuku, he sent his “death poem” to the Japanese Army Central Command, which altered its wording, thus causing problems. On 24 June, Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his recognition of the problem, noting, “The changes to the poem were contrary to the  general’s intention in a form that was absolutely different from his thinking. Doing such is unacceptable. It can only link his very existence as the commander to a dishonor." As to the rewriting that clearly took place, the governor expressed his shock, “We have to accept the actual fact that the rewriting was done to preserve the establishment.” The governor added his criticism, “We have no choice but to determine harshly that the wording change, under the guise of protecting our national state, which by the deeds of the Imper...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crepe Myrtle, roadside Uruma, 22jn25 On 23 June, during his Peace Address at the Okinawa Memorial Service for All the War Dead, expressing his concerns over continuing actions of historical revisionism by some politicians, Governor Denny spoke clearly of the establishment of an “International Peace Institute”  as a research and an international peace institution site to play a part in affirming the historical truth of the Okinawan Campaign. The governor emphasized that he was promoting the preservation  and daily use of Okinawa’s array of battle ruins, as “silent storytellers”, noting, “We’re aiming to have them registered as  World Heritage Sites in the future!” With activities of historical revisionism at the top of his mind, the governor stated, “While those with actual experience of that war are still wrapped in its wounds, their remaining testimony and the facts and lessons of that tragic Okinawan Campaign,  have been passed along for broadc...

Splendor of Okinawa: Peregrina, roadside Uruma, 22jn25 Organized fighting ended in the Okinawa Campaign on 23 June 1945. So, on that day yearly, “Souls Day” services are held for all the war dead of the Okinawa Campaign at Peace Memorial Park at Mabuni in Itoman. About 4,000 people attended this year to hear addresses by Governor Denny Tamaki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Right in the middle of the Prime Minister’s speech, cries sprang out from the audience shouting slogans such as, “Promise us you won’t make Okinawa a battleground! Let’s raise the voices of Uchina-nchu (Ryukyuan: the Okinawan People)!”, momentarily leaving the site in an uproar. Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Tuesday 24 June 2025 at 14:51. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0b710084c7eb443bc34f5e0dd6c6863a09fda359 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 ...

Habranthus Roubustus, roadside Chatan, 23jn25 On 23 June, Okinawa held its “All Souls Day” to remember the more than 200 thousand victims of the Okinawa Campaign 80 years ago. At the memorial service, a victim of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Shigemitsu Tanaka, also participated. The memorial service for all the war dead in Okinawa was held from the afternoon of 23 June at the Peace Memorial Garden at Mabuni in Itoman, Okinawa. Attending the service, in addition to Prime Minister Ishiba, were UN Undersecretary General of Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and Japan Atomic Bombing Victims Association Representative Shigemitsu Tanaka, a victim of the Nagasaki bombing. attending for the first time. Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki stated in his address, “The 80th year since the end of the war offers us one guidepost. At least for myself, even if we can’t change Okinawa just now, we can continue to proclaim peace from Okinawa. I firmly believe that our activities are what bind u...

Splendor of Okinawa: Plumeria, roadside Chatan, 23jn25 In his “Peace Address” in the memorial service for all the war dead in the Okinawa Campaign, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki stated, “It’s our duty to continue to preserve the reality and lessons of the Okinawa Campaign by passing them across generations!” Original Japanese article: Kyodo Communications, published Monday 23 June 2025 at 12:34 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ffe8e4c448bbc6751c74b05641855527a83a2ce5 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 ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crown of Thorns, roadside Uruma, 1jn25 In the Okinawa Campaign 80 years ago, 94,000 civilians were evacuated. Since the evacuation from the Islands was incomplete, the mingling of military and civilians on the battlefield ended in tragedy The current National Administration is concerned with a Taiwan emergency. It is rushing to decide on policy for an evacuation plan for the 120 thousand citizens living on Okinawa Prefecture’s outer islands. Accepting this policy is confusing for Okinawans: “Are they preparing for war?” or “Is this linked to our sense of security?” Touching on lessons from the past, the National Government is being requested to respond politely in order to gain local understanding. In March of this year, the National Government announced publicly preliminary plans for 8 prefectures, including Kyushu and Yamaguchi, to be destinations for evacuees from the outer islands. Civilian ferries and aircraft can carry off 20,000 people per day. Within 6 days...

Splendor of Okinawa: Treasure Flower, roadside Uruma, 1jn25 On 19 June, the system for researching on the Internet the names of the war dead inscribed at the “Cornerstone of Peace” was completed. At 10:30 on the morning of the 19th, the opening of the system to the public was announced. People can search for those whose names are inscribed there by name, birthdate, and place of birth. The system can be accessed in Japanese, of course, but also in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese. Access is possible by computer, cell-phone, or other such devices. The “Cornerstone of Peace” was built in 1995 as a memorial  for the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. It comprises 116 black granite cenotaphs inscribed with the names of all the known war dead, regardless of nationality or status as civilian or military. Access to the names of those inscribed has been limited until now to those with the opportunity to search on site or by application to the Prefecture. So, relatives...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, roadside Uruma, 1jn25. Okinawa Prefecture’s US Washington Office was shut down this month over the discovery of the continuing reality of sloppy administrative management. At his regular press briefing on 19 June, Governor Denny Tamaki offered his thoughts on the Office, noting, “To the extent possible, we are going to set in place a system to restart the Office as soon as possible.” Without elucidating on a series of suspicions, he noted that investigations are continuing in the Prefectural Assembly’s Special Investigative Committee (Investigative Committee). The reporters inquired also, “Will the Office reopen before the end of the Investigative Committee’s review?” However, the governor offered no comment on the reopening. At the press briefing, Governor Tamaki stressed, “We are gathering information that the US possesses and considering the necessity of continually passing along such information. The governor further noted, “We are proceeding t...