A citizen group calls the US side’s demand for proof of PFAS pollution emanating from its bases “contradictory”. (21de25)

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, it was stressed that, from inspection of underground streams around the bases, “From the perspective of the Prefecture, the probability of the source of the pollution being on the bases has already been determined as high.”


However, the US side, in the face of new evidence shown by the Prefecture, is rethinking whether or not to allow an inspection. The official stated, “One promising result is that, however they later respond, they at least have the materials to ponder.


Director of the civic group Ginowan Chura (Ryukyuan: Pure) Water Committee Masafumi Teruya, which pleads for a solution to PFAS pollution, criticized the US side’s request that scientific proof be shown that its bases are the source of the pollution, noting “If we can’t get into the places, namely the bases, where it’s coming from, it’s clearly contradictory to say we don’t have data. The logical inconsistencies are almost humorously myriad.”


Moreover, Director Teruya noted, “In order to clear each and every reason for their permission refusal, it’s essential that the Prefecture and local US bases set up a site to cooperate directly.” Then he added, “The National Government’s stance in cooperation facing our reality is also questionable.”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Friday 19 December 2025 at 21:22. Byline: Hiroshi Higa.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/66ff3817a7ecda6048297308062543f4bc0e68ca


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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