Okinawa Prefecture Governor Tamaki and Hyogo Prefecture Governor Saito hold discussions on sharing thoughts toward peace. (22no25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Madagascar Periwinkle, roadside Uruma, 7no25


On 21 November, Hyogo Prefecture Governor Motohiko Saito visited Okinawa Prefecture to make his pilgrimage to services at  Chrysanthemum Memorial Tower (dedicated to Hyogo Prefecture’s war dead in Okinawa) and Island Guardian Memorial Tower (dedicated to Akira Shimada), both constructed  by Hyogo Prefecture in the south of Okinawa Island at Mabuni. In addition Governor Saito held discussions with Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki.


Both prefectures are bound by mutual friendship over the background of their respect for Okinawa Prefecture’s  Governor  Akira Shimada, who perished at the end of the war, as one of the great many from Hyogo Prefecture whose lives were lost in the Okinawa Campaign.


Governor Tamaki also thanked Governor Saito for the efforts of Hyogo Prefecture’s Amagasaki Municipal Brass Band, led by Chief Conductor Yasutaka Haneji,  in cheering on Okinawa’s Sho Gaku High School Baseball Team from its first game through its victorious last at this summer’s Koshien Tournament.


The governor further offered his expectations, “A lot of people born in Okinawa have moved to Hyogo Prefecture. But, while passing over that dreadful war era, we’d like to focus our thoughts on continuing the cheerful thoughts between us, such as your cheering our teams on at Koshien.”


Governor Saito responded, “Indeed it’s sports and cultural exchanges that can make peace possible. We’d like the opportunity for  consideration by both prefectures. Our forebears are said to have been linked in peace and prosperity. I’d like to create opportunities for both our prefectures to consider that!” 


The governor of Hyogo  also noted that a great many schools choose Okinawa for their field trips. He further found a place for humor, noting, “The young generation’s exchanges are becoming essential. We should deepen exchanges so they can study  the importance of peace. But, sooner or later, I’d like to see Hyogo and Okinawa face off at the finals at Koshien.”


Original Japanese article: Yaeyama Daily News, published Saturday 22 November 2025 at 06:00.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/58e8206f8378e3e13f49129fff6466e93a1ee38a


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 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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