In discussions without Prefectural mediation, the National Government and Ginowan City hold their first conference on Futenma Airfield. (19jn25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Slender Dwarf Morning Glory, roadside Uruma, 15jn25

The National Government held its newly established conference on preserving the environmental livelihood of residents of Ginowan City, which encompasses the US Military Futenma Airfield. The conference was held at the Prime Minister’s Residence on 17 June.


Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki is opposed to the relocation of Futenma Airfield within the Prefecture. So, the conference proceeded without the Prefecture, seemingly with the aim of plotting environmental arrangements in the face of the relocation. Deputy First Cabinet Secretary Fumiyoshi Sato, Ginowan City Mayor Atsushi Sakima, pertinent ministry chiefs, and others attended the conference.


Ginowan City explained that planned urban renewal could not take place in the current situation with the airfield in place and the airfield’s increased noise pollution.


Separate from this conference, the National Government and the Prefecture along with Ginowan City have their “Committee to Advance the Reduction of the Futenma Airfield Burden”. However, talks have not been held at it since April of 2019. Ginowan City has thus requested a venue for direct discussions with the National Government over concerns such as noise pollution.


After the conference, Mayor Sakima expressed his thinking to the press squad, noting that he wanted to sponsor his conference concurrent with the Advance Reduction Committee.


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 10:10. Byline: Kotaro Ono.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6e5d940669fb871ed570bbaaf55d0e56b39b757e


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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