Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Rosy Rain Lily, roadside Uruma, 26oc25 Threats from Chinese ships, such as drawing dangerously close to Japanese fishing boats in the seas around the Senkaku Island Chain, have become a persistent problem. 　 On 20 October, Coast Guard 11th District Commander Seishiro Sakamoto stressed, “If our fishermen are fishing around the Senkakus, now and hereafter as well, we’re going to protect them from Chinese ships!” On 24 October, offering his own thoughts on the matter, okinawa Prefecture Governor DennyTamaki had questioned, “Wouldn’t it be better to choose to conduct fishing in our safer and more secure territorial waters?” The governor thus hinted that, since the seas around the Senkaku Chain we’re dangerous, fishermen should exercise self restraint in fishing there. Thus, on 30 October, Coast Guard Commander Sakamoto ended up being Informally queried on the subject by the press squad. Informally before his regular press conference had begun, Commander Sakamoto report...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crepe Ginger, Gushikawa RC Church, 26oc25 On 29 October, Cabinet Minister for Okinawa and the Northern Territories Hiroshi Kikawada visited Okinawa Prefecture for the first time since taking office and held discussions with Governor Denny Tamaki. Governor Tamaki once again pleaded for the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield outside the prefecture or even outside Japan and the reversion of the closed base’s land as soon as possible. The governor requested, “We’d like the abandonment of plans to relocate the base to Henoko in Nago, since the understanding of our prefecture’s people can’t be gotten!” Since the inauguration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, this was the first visit of a cabinet minister to Okinawa. However, there are hints that the unease over the Henoko relocation between the National Administration and the Prefecture are stiff and deep rooted. At the start of their discussions, Governor Tamaki brought up the issue of the US Military bases....

Splendor of Okinawa: Jersey Lily, roadside Uruma, 26oc25 PFAS are harmful chemical compounds pointed out as cancer-causing. High concentrations of PFAS chemicals have been detected in areas surrounding US Military bases in Okinawa Prefecture. Thus, citizen groups, made up of local residents of such areas, have requested the Okinawa Prefectural Pollution Review Board for public hazard mediation in petitioning  the National Government for action, such as an on-site inspection of the bases. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications,  as of 27 October, requests for public hazard mediation regarding PFAS chemicals are beginning across the nation. As for PFAS, in 2016, the Prefecture announced publicly that PFAS chemicals had been discovered in tap water sources for water purification plants providing water for 450 thousand people in 7 communities, including Okinawa City. That same water source was in the vicinity of US Kadena Base within the borders of Okinaw...

Splendor of Okinawa:  Zephyranthes Citrina,  roadside Uruma, 26oc25 The 20th Annual Karate Day Martial Arts Demonstration Festival was held on Kokusai Street in Naha on 26 October. Leading with Okinawa Karate as the centerpiece, 3,100 aficionados, including Governor Denny Tamaki,  gathered from all over the world. Decked out in their white  uniforms, the karate practitioners dyed Kokusai Street white, exciting bystanders with their impressive martial cries and fervor. Governor Tamaki, holder of a black belt himself and glistening with sweat in his karate uniform, remarked, “Seeing so many engaged in martial arts stirs my heart! Whether adults or minors, all are in unison, and later as well, I’d like them to transmit to the world from Okinawa our ‘peaceful martial art’!” A man from India, whose family has a 45 year history of karate involvement, stated, “We’ve been coming to Okinawa again and again. Because of karate, we’re all one family here. Here we feel the charm ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Slender Dwarf Morning Glory, roadside Uruma, 19oc25. Chinese warships stationed permanently in the seas around the Senkaku Island Chain, located within the boundaries of Ishigaki City are a threat to the fishing of local fishing boats. Thus, unease is broadening among fishermen and has become a problem. Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki alluded to the issue at his 24 October scheduled press conference. He advised, “Personally, I wonder if it might be best to choose a way to carry out fishing in safe and secure areas.” The maritime areas around the Senkaku Chain have traditionally been Japan’s territory. So, any claim urging the exercise of restraint in fishing there is unacceptable. Thus, there may well be a stir over it. Governor Tamaki’s statement was in response to queries by the press on the unease of fishermen going out for their catch. He had prefaced his statement, noting, “It’s not up to us to ask where  they will fish, or tell them fish here or ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Nettlespurge, roadside Uruma, 12oc25. At the 9 October opening of the UN General Assembly’s 3rd session on Human Rights in New York, Japan expressed its concern over China’s human rights problems.  The Chinese delegation exploded with one-sided criticism over Okinawa and such, noting, “We encourage Japan to halt its discrimination and prejudice toward the various indigenous peoples of Okinawa!”  At his regular press conference on 24 October, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki commented on that report. Exhibiting his awareness of the event at his press conference, Governor Tamaki rejected the Chinese notion, stating, “Within the Prefectural Government, there’s no such discussion on their so-called ethnic theory.” He added, “However, if taken as a reference to our Ryukyu People, there are some who use that expression.” Moreover, the governor brought up Okinawan history repeatedly, noting, “In our history, we’ve been severed from Japan. We were integrat...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, roadside Uruma, 12oc25 On 21 October, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Sanae Takaichi was  chosen Prime Minister at an extraordinary Diet session. At the Prefectural Office on the same day, on the news of the choice, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki replied on record to press squad queries.  The governor stated, “I’d like her to set up a venue for a dialogue with me on the military base problems Okinawa is embroiled in. In fact, there are various topics I’d hope to deal with in a meeting with her.” Governor Tamaki also spoke of the coalition between the LDP and Isshin Party. He expressed his perception of their coalition, stating, “In running the government up till now, the coalition of the LDP and Komeito played a certain role of restraint. But when I look at the contents of the agreement between the LDP and Isshin Party, it includes advancing the reform of the 3 documents of the Security Treaty and the promotion of reacti...

Splendor of Okinawa: Wishbone Flower, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 The Chinese UN delegation has expressed its perception that the people of Okinawa Prefecture are an indigenous people. The Japan-Okinawa Policy Research Forum (chair: Satoru Nakamura) has begun activity at the UN to counter that narrative.  Chairman Nakamura expressed his concern, stating, “China has begun stating, for the first time in a public forum, its ‘Okinawan Undecided Sovereignty Theory’, which suggests that Okinawan sovereignty does not belong to Japan. That’s dangerous meddling!” On China’s intention, the chairman surmised that it was foreshadowing its claim to say, “The US Military  and Self Defense Force (SDF) activity in Okinawa is an infringement on the rights of an indigenous population.” The chairman further speculated, “As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, in alignment with Russia and others, China can become quite a danger. We can’t even be sure whether or not a recommendation might be ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden Dew drop, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 On 21 October, Governor Denny Tamaki responded on record to press corps queries, after learning of the Takaichi Cabinet solidified lineup. He requested a speedy dialogue with her on the reduction of the burden of US Military bases and a concrete reform of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) for the sake of Okinawa’s development. The governor also expressed his sense of wariness over the new prime minister’s policy on such items as the accelerated reform of the 3 Security Documents that her  Liberal Democratic (LDP) and Isshin Party coalition has been touting, noting, “With a sense of wariness, we have to keep a close watch over such matters.”  Governor Tamaki is requesting the reopening of an already existing committee and such, as well as a hopefully speedy direct dialogue with Prime Minister  Sanae Takaichi on such items as a meeting to expedite a reduction in the burden of Futenma Airfield The gove...

Splendor of Okinawa: Spirea, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 (NAHA BUREAU) At this year’s August 107th National High School Baseball Tournament, Okinawa Shogaku High School Baseball Team won its first championship. The award ceremony was held for them at Okinawa Prefectural Office, with people related to the school team in attendance. Governor Tamaki, with laudatory comments, handed the award certificate to Team Captain Tokuto Makishi and memorial gifts to Vice-Captain Shunsuke Minei. Original Japanese article: Miyako Daily News, published Wednesday 15 October 2025 at 09:57. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0c2e384503c434ecc1252dc121d43e6dea131c09 Denny in the News: Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although 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 ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Madagascar Periwinkle, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 During their stay in Okinawa, members of the Hawaiian United Okinawa Association (HUOA), chaired by Frances Kubo, visited Governor Denny Tamaki on 17 October. In order to experience Okinawa’s culture and history more broadly, each year the group comes on a tour around the time of the Naha Great Rope Pull.  This year 61 members participated in the journey. To memorialize the emigration from Okinawa to Hawaii over the past 125 years and the 40th anniversary of the Sisterly Partnership between Okinawa and the US State of Hawaii, a series of events have been held. Chairperson Kubo reported that they had held a dance performance at Itoman’s Tower of Peace  and participated in Naha’s Great Rope Pull.   Chairperson Kubo further stated, “Since our arrival, our members have experienced, in the flesh, the chimu gukuru  (Ryukyuan: deep heart) of Okinawa. I’ve stated that it has changed our lives. We feel a ...