Okinawa’s Governor Denny Tamaki explains why he is putting off his announcement to run for a third term, calling his decision, “A judgment based on the tragic accident.” (24mr26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Sweet William, roadside Uruma 15mr26

On 23 March, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki, facing the autumn gubernatorial election, decided to put off the Prefectural Government Report Meeting along with his own formal declaration of candidacy in the election, stating, “In view of the tragic accident at Henoko and out of consideration for the victims, we’ve put those matters off.”

　

The governor added, in response to queries from the press corps, that he had planned to hold a press conference on 28 March at the Prefectural Government Report Meeting and to formally declare his candidacy there. However, on news of the accident of the  two small boats being capsized in the Henoko offing, he will also put off that event. Thus the Prefectural Government Report Meeting will be put off as well, and a new date is being arranged.


Governor Tamaki clarified his judgment, questioning, “In the midst of this heartbreaking situation, isn’t it best to avoid such events that gather us all together?”


A conservative gubernatorial candidate selection group, made up of business groups and others, has already decided whom to back. Former Deputy Naha Mayor Genta Koja formally  declared that he is their candidate on the afternoon of 23 March.


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Monday 23 March 2026 at 10:41.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b54f85fa9f05468df94d1dbff52a21eb879ece37


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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