Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki explains delaying his declaration of a third run in the gubernatorial election, claiming, “We made the decision on news of that lamentable accident”. (16ap26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Forest Numnum roadside Uruma, 5ap26.

On 23 March, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki decided to put off both the Prefectural Administration Report Meeting and his own declaration of candidacy in the fall gubernatorial election. He noted, “On news of the lamentable accident at Henoko, we delayed our timing out of consideration for the victims.”


The governor made the comments in response to press corps queries. He had planned to hold a press conference on 28 March at the Prefectural Administration Report Meeting to declare his candidacy formally. However, he delayed the declaration on receipt of news of the capsize of the two small boats in the offing at Henoko.


The governor also put off the Prefectural Administration Report Meeting. Both are being rescheduled for another day. Governor Tamaki confirmed that the judgment was his, noting, “Wasn’t it better to avoid holding an event which would gather you all together?”


A conservative group made up of business groups and others has already held its prefectural gubernatorial election candidate selection committee and chosen its candidate, former Naha Deputy Mayor Genta Koja. He formally declared his candidacy on the afternoon of 23 March.


Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimo, 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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