Locked on the Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election, the Denny Administration looks hopefully forward at its Report Meeting in Naha, where it touts its v-shaped recovery in tourism, advances in child-care, free school meals, and strength in regional diplomacy on the base question with the UN and the U.S. Government. (21my26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Slender Dwarf Morning Glory, roadside Uruma, 17my 26.


Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki’s Prefectural Report Meeting (sponsored by the Denny Tamaki Support Committee) was held on 18 May in Naha. There the governor reported the achievements made in the 8 years of his first 2 terms in office. 


The governor courteously explained that for the first time ever, he got a historic budget in the range of 900 billion yen, tourism had made a v-shaped recovery, and he was making progress on child-care funding and free school meal funding.


Aiming at creating peace in the Asia-Pacific Region through dialogue and diplomacy, he attended the UN Human Rights Commission’s September 2023 Board of Directors Meeting and stressed his declaration, stating, “Our plight is the concentration of US Military bases in our midst and our equal participation in decision making has been obstructed.” He added, “But the intention of our prefecture’s people is to continue our request for peace.”


The governor recalled his September 2024 visit to the US, where he conferred with members of Congress and others connected to the US Government. There, too, he made people aware of the US Military base issues at research centers and universities.


In addition, he deepened awareness of the problems of Okinawa’s hazardous chemical pollutants, such as PFAS, and invited the UN Special Reporter to Okinawa over pollution emanating from US bases.


The governor noted that last year had been the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He revealed that he was developing a huge project focusing on the education of peace guides for the opening and preservation of the Japanese  32nd Army Headquarters Cave Complex. 


The governor also touched on a symposium that he sponsored, with invitees, such as UN Deputy  Secretary General Izumi Nakamitsu and members of Japan’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Group 


The governor noted forcefully, “I want to declare nuclear disarmament and everlasting peace to the world from Okinawa!”


On his decision to seek a third term in the gubernatorial election (to be declared on 27 August with ballots opened on 13 September), Governor Denny promised, “I hear the voices of the prefecture's people. Now, with a single mind, I’ll take your hopes forward!”


Original Japanese article: Aka Hata (Red Flag), published Wednesday 20May 2026 at 10:16.

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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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