Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Scarlet Jungleflame, roadside Uruma, 7no25 In September of 2026, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki’s second term ends, bringing on a gubernatorial election.  On 28 December, with that election in mind, a candidate selection committee,  made up generally of conservative oriented business people and such, held its meeting in Naha to go through the documents  of 5 individuals who either applied on their own or were recommended by others. On 11 January 2026, the final candidate is planned to be chosen by the committee after interviews and such. The 5 applicants are: Naha Deputy Mayor Genta Koja (42), Speaker of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Kyoki Nakagawa (63), former Speaker of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and management consultant Noboru  Akamine (58), the prefecture’s Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama (58), and the prefecture’s Urasoe City Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto (58). On the other side, the forces of All Okinawa, which stand in...

Splendor of Okinawa: Hibiscus, roadside Uruma, 15fe25 On 26 December, Governor Denny Tamaki proclaimed the top news of his administration this year, selected by each of his departments. Two items were selected as top: the carrying out of the Peace Memorial Project marking the 80th year since the war’s end, through the combined efforts of the whole Prefectural staff, and, as part of the memorial service for the war dead, the visit to Okinawa of the whole Royal Family. Governor Tamaki repeatedly noted, “Along with creating the opportunity for our prefecture’s people to contemplate peace, these events broadcast to the world, both within and outside our nation, the heart of Okinawa’s yearning for peace.” Apart from administration matters, the governor also lauded  the victory of Okinawa Skogaku High School at the Koshien Tournament and the presentation of the Prefectural People’s Honor Award to the team, the presentation of the same award to US Major League Los Angeles Dodgers Coach Da...

Splendor of Okinawa: Chrysanthemum, Mihama Beach, 15de25 With the end of the current term ending in September of next year, the Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election will be held to fill the position.  With that election in mind, at an election candidate selection committee meeting held in Naha on 28 December, 5 aspiring candidates, including conservative municipal leaders and an economic group representative, came under consideration to run. Word has it that after interviews with the 5 on 11 January 2026 by the committee, a vote by the members will determine the final candidate. The five who passed the document review for the election run are: Naha Deputy Mayor Genta Koja, Speaker of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Kyoki Nakagawa, former Speaker of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and management consultant Noboru  Akamine, the prefecture’s Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama, and the prefecture’s Urasoe City Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto. After the private meeting, Election...

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden Dewdrop, roadside Uruma, 15oc25. At his regular press conference on 26 December, Governor Denny Tamaki publicly announced plans for the construction of a special purpose soccer stadium, meeting J-League specifications, within Onoyama Park in Naha City. The cost of the construction of the stadium, with a capacity of 10,000 spectators, is estimated at around 26.4 billion yen. The yearly income ripple effect is expected to be in the range of 3 to 8 billion yen. The stadium’s use is targeted to begin in 2031. Its construction will be in the area of the track and field site. Altogether, the facility will take up an area of 62,000 square meters. The facility will be built with a capacity for a gathering of 10,000 at first. But its capacity will be expanded in stages, by alterations and construction, to hold around 20,000. Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Friday 26 December 2025 at 13:01. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bee2067f1bb89c3cfdecbb0...

Splendor of Okinawa: Indian Shot, roadside Futenma, 15de25f. Okinawa Prefecture announced that it will amass on the scale of 26 billion yen for the construction of a specialized soccer stadium, built to fulfill J-League standards. Governor Denny Tamaki promised, “Pro sports create  opportunities to give dreams to our children. Moreover, this stadium will contribute to the stimulation of Okinawa Prefecture’s economy. Thus, we’re putting all our strength into its speedy construction.” The soccer stadium is expected to be established at Onoyama Park in Naha.  Governor Tamaki announced the construction plan and further noted that the cost of the construction would be in the range of 26.4 billion yen. For financing, a private funding initiative (PFI) method coordinating the government and private sources is planned. Natural grass is planned for use in the stadium construction to accord with J-League standards. The yearly economic ripple effect is anticipated to be from 3 to 8 billi...

Splendor of Okinawa: Australian Gold Vine, roadside Futenma, 15de25f Nagano Prefecture Mayor Shuichi Abe held a press conference on 25 December at the Prefectural Office. He expressed his concept there of reviving discussions of utilizing the positioning of Prefectural managed Matsumoto Airport as a “bustling hub” of commerce. The governor noted, “Matsumoto Daira Regional Park is in the vicinity, along with excellent scenic spots. I’d like to have discussions on the suitability of placing this added responsibility on our airport.” With the New Year in view, he touched on Matsumoto Airport in speaking of the Prefectural Administration’s future prospects.  In addition to dealing with the completion of the airport’s construction, the governor noted, “I have this gnawing sense of wondering if  our concept  of building our Matsumoto Airport ‘only for people using planes’ is good enough. I’d like to get around to considering how the area of our Matsumoto Airport site can be put...

Splendor of Okinawa: Slender Dwarf Morning Glory, roadside Uruma, 15de25 The National Government cemented its plan to set the 2026 Okinawa Promotion Budget Proposal at 264.7 billion yen. Although Okinawa Prefecture has requested a budget in the range of 300 billion, it has gone 5 years in a row without attaining that level.  The proposed budget will be submitted at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Okinawa Promotion Budget Consideration Committee meeting on 18 December. This was confirmed by multiple related sources on 17 December. It seems that the prolonged opposition of the Prefecture to the Government over the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Naha had an influence on the lower budget proposal. However, facing the end of his term in September of next year, the stance of Governor Tamaki against Henoko as the relocation site has not been shattered. In next year’s gubernatorial election, there looks to be a showdown looming between Governor ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana, roadside Uruma, 28se25. The Japan Student Baseball Association has confirmed abusive language and corporal punishment to the point of actual peril against members of the Enagic Sports Senior High School baseball team by the school’s principal and coach Yoshimune Kamiya, and he has been suspended for one year of reflection as his punishment. In an on record response to press corps queries on that subject on 22 December, Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his acknowledgment of the issue, noting, “Recently, harsh views on various acts of harassment have become clear.” The governor added that the decision for the Enagic baseball team coach’s one year suspension punishment for abusive language and corporal punishment will cover the teams participation in the spring Koshien National Invitational High School Baseball Tournament.  Moreover, he stated, “Myself included, those of us who stand in posts of responsibility must consider feeling an ever stronger sense o...

Splendor of Okinawa: Honeysuckle, roadside Futenma, 15de25. With the opening of ballots on 21 December, former City Assembly Member Noriyuki Ohshiro (57) was elected mayor of Nanjo City. On the morning of 22 December, Governor Denny Tamaki set out his expectations of mayor-elect Ohshiro in answering press corps queries on record. The governor noted, “Mr. Ohshiro has been an especially bright star in primary industry. In the Prefecture, shouldn’t we be also considering putting our efforts into primary industry? By that I mean, isn’t that a place where we can cooperate?” The mayoral election was carried out in reaction to the former Mayor Keishun Koza’s loss of office due to sexual harassment issues. Governor Tamaki analyzed the result, noting, “When considering the vote gap, didn’t it include the expectation of city residents, who hoped for a necessarily firm rectification of the situation in the Nanjo City Administration, a plan for a fresh attitude?” Governor Tamaki also supported May...

Splendor of Okinawa: Dahlia, roadside Futenma, 15de25. Concurrent with the term’s end, ballots will be opened on 25 January 2026 in Okinawa Prefecture’s Nago City Mayoral Election. On 21 December, Kumiko Onaga (69), a former City Assembly member who plans to be a candidate in the race, held a press conference in the city to announce her policies.  Candidate Onaga pleaded for putting weight on opposition to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, stating, “The risk of crimes and accidents is on the rise, continuing to threaten the lives and security of our city’s residents!” Candidate Onaga is supported by the might of All Okinawa, which also opposes the relocation. Touching on progress in the relocation construction, Candidate Onaga pointed out, “Even with the increase in public works, the incomes of the people of our city haven’t risen. The income gap just keeps widening!” She added, “We’re in a regional cyclical economy,” making her appeal...

Splendor of Okinawa: Templetree, roadside Futenma, 15de25 Okinawa Prefecture has requested an on base inspection in order to clarify the origin of PFAS pollution in the prefecture. However, the US side has responded negatively, claiming, “No scientific proof has been presented to verify such data.” Governor Denny Tamaki issued his comment on the refusal, retorting, “We want the US Military to let us carry out the inspection, precisely so we can show them the scientific evidence!” Since 2016, the Prefecture has 4 times requested an inspection of 3 bases, including Kadena Base. Since there has never been a response, at the end of November this year, once again to the US Military Headquarters in Japan, the Prefecture sent its request in a document asking for a reply within the month of January 2026.  On 19 December, a Defense Ministry official visited the Prefectural Office to explain the response of the US side in a private meeting. Later, in an on record response to the press corps,...

Splendor of Okinawa: Scarlet Jungleflame, roadside Futenma, 15de25 On 19 December, at a hotel in Nagano City, the Okinawa Tourism Thanksgiving Gathering 2025 was held to strengthen the network of tourism related entities in both Okinawa and Nagano Prefectures, with the Okinawa and Nagano governors and others promoting Okinawa’s attractions.  After arriving in the prefecture by a plane connecting Okinawa’s Naha Airport and Nagano Prefecture’s Matsumoto Airport, Governor Denny Tamaki and others in the Okinawan group exhibited such attractions as Ryukyu dance. Moreover, cultural understanding was deepened in the mutual introduction of the traditional culture of both Nagano and Okinawa, such as in a performance of  Kiso Bushi and  Dance (a folk dance with song from Nagano) by the Kiso Dance Preservation Committee. About 20 from Okinawa and around 120 from Nagano Prefectures gathered to join in the Kiso performance.  Individuals related to tourism and tourist accommodatio...