Governor Tamaki rejects as “US side gossip” a US public document alleging that Futenma Airfield will be kept active and requests the reduction of Okinawa’s excessive base burden. (18fe26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Star Jasmine, roadside Uruma 14fe25


The US Military Futenma Airfield is supposed to revert to Japan and be replaced by a base to be newly constructed at Henoko in Nago. However now, the US Defense Department has clearly stated its thinking, in a formal public document, that, until a replacement with a suitable runway (trans note: the US Marines have often noted that Henoko’s runway length is insufficient) is selected, the Futenma Base will not be returned.


Alluding to that story on 16 February, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki rejected it with the criticism, “It’s US side gossip! We absolutely can’t accept it.”


The basis for the Futenma Airfield story is the publication of an opinion piece in which a current lieutenant colonel in the US Marines stated his thinking that, even after the new replacement base at Henoko is completed, Futenma Airfield should be kept for US-Japan joint-use. The claim of continued use has been ongoing from the US side.


Governor Tamaki pointed out the delay in carrying out the deal, agreed to by both the US And Japanese Governments, to return the Futenma land to Japan and redeploy its US Marines and such to Guam. 


The governor noted, “The US side is claiming that the security environment around Asia has changed, and so they have to rethink everything. But considering Okinawa’s plea for a reduction in its excessive base burden, the Futenma reversion is the most notable example!”


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Monday 16 February 2026 at 10:31. Byline: Ittetsu Mekari.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8fe079c00773b4d3504ea9274e534e7a2504f756


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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