The pertinent clauses of the US-Japan agreement ought to be confirmed and the US side should be requested to abide by them”, advises Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki, on the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield. (25fe26).

Splendor of Okinawa: Kalanchoe, roadside Uruma, 26ja24


Regarding the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his viewpoint on 24 February, advising, “The National Government should confirm the details of the US-Japan Agreement and request the US side to abide by them.”


The US Defense Department judged from documents it had compiled that Futenma Airfield clearly could not be reverted to Japan, unless the Japanese Government chose a runway longer than that proposed for construction at Henoko. 


During on record  responses to press squad queries on 24 February, Governor Tamaki was asked whether the Naha Airport’s runway, which is longer than that proposed for the relocation site, could be used by any chance? The governor strongly retorted, “There’s no way I’d allow it.”


However, when the US and Japanese Governments announced their plan in 2013, they agreed that a civilian runway could be used in cases of emergency, when a long runway might be needed. 


Then Defense Minister Koizumi had stated, “There’s no inconsistency whatsoever in  what has been acknowledged between the US and Japan. Depending on the circumstances, it’s possible to plan for adjustments.”


Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun, published Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 10:53.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/59579246ed9095837c14c48a169973d6d5bd45dc


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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