Denny in the News

At the end of last year I returned to Okinawa. The order had been handed down by the Japanese government that under no circumstances should the Omicron strain of Covid-19 that was causing the world to tremble get into Japan. Japanese citizens returning from abroad who tested positive at immigration had to be isolated after entering the country for 3 to 10 days at an accommodation decided by the quarantine station. During quarantine, there were health checks twice a day and the accommodation confirmed a response by video phone or app several times per day.  After confirmed negative results on the 3rd, 6th, and 10th days, the traveler was released.   The Japanese government explained to the US Military in Japan the coherent measures that were being taken. However, when a huge cluster occurred at year end, it was discovered that US military personnel were entering and leaving Japan freely without testing. In Okinawa, the widespread infections on the bases were extensively covered...

“Spread Prevention Special Measures” went into effect on 9 January in 3 prefectures: Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima. Because of the widespread Covid-19, no Coming of Age Day ceremonies were held. Even Kokusai (International) Street, which should have been bustling with loads of young people, was deserted. At “Kotori”, a restaurant/bar near Kokusai Street staffed by two ladies, 2 groups of 4 were tipping their cups at the counter. The place has tables with about 30 seats. Ms. Maki Tamaki (68), charged with serving customers, lamented, “Normally, except for seats left empty as a contagion prevention measure, the place would be full. But now?”  From the end of May until the end of September last year the place was temporarily shut down under the State of Emergency Declaration. During that time they kept in touch with their usual customers by mail. So, when doors opened again in October, the footsteps of their customers returned. The ladies claim business was bustling until 2 Januar...

The sudden surge of Covid-19 cases in Okinawa are said to be a direct hit on the coming Nago mayoral election, to be announced on 16 January. As Okinawa’s “election year” first battle, which will continue the important watershed struggle for the opposition parties as well in the fall gubernatorial election, the campaign headquarters are watching over their support rhetoric for votes. For the governing party (LDP), there are concerns over the influence of the surge on the relocation of the US MIlitary Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago. The mayoral election looks to be a two way battle between the incumbent Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi (60), nominated by the ruling party (LDP), and newcomer City Assemblyman Yohei Iwamoto, supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and Governor Denny Tamaki. Ballots will be opened on 23 January. In contrast to Kishimoto, who lauds his opposition to the relocation, Toguchi is taking the strategy of avoiding the point of ...

At the Japan US Security Conference (2 plus 2) on 7 January, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki showed the concerns on his mind of a Taiwan emergency in joint discussions. He noted his stance in opposition to joint use of SDF (Japan Self Defence Force) facilities and pointed out, “In a case such as a Taiwan emergency, it is absolutely unacceptable  that Okinawa should be in a situation where it becomes a target for an attack. When you strengthen SDF deployments and add to that joint use of SDF facilities, for the people of this prefecture, you’re wrapping them up in an especially great unease. Joint use ought not be done!” The governor made a  further request to the National Government, “I hope we will strive to foster trust, while relieving the tensions building up in the Asia-Pacific region,” further noting, “I would welcome the development of a joint effort plan to handle states of emergency.” He also alluded to the SDF buildup broadly in the Ryukyu Islands where, “Joint use of ...

The view has been hardening that the  US Military bases in Japan are the epicenter of the sudden expansion of the epidemic in 3 prefectures: Okinawa, where Special Contagion Prevention Measures against Covid-19 have been applied, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima. Compared to Japan’s, the US Military’s disease prevention measures have been pointed out to be weak. The Japanese Government is worried that anti-base sentiment will surely heighten among its population. On 6 January, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi phoned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for a tightening of contagion prevention measures among US Military in Japan, “We strongly request that you implement strong and thorough measures, including imposition of confinement to base.” The Foreign Ministry’s request for confinement to base was unprecedented. Secretary Blinken answered, “I want to do whatever I can.” 　 US Military bases in their midst is a common factor among the 3 prefectures. In Japan, 70 percent of the fa...

On 5 January, it became known that 27 people were newly infected with Covid-19 in the prefecture (Shizuoka). Moreover, the wide-spread infections at the US Military Camp Fuji in Gotemba  have not ceased. Up to now, 46 cases of infection have been confirmed there, further heightening the sense of alarm in the area. The contagion is widespread among the American Military stationed in the prefecture as well. The American Military Camp Fuji in Gotemba reported 46  cases of contagion among its units as of 5 January. The Omicron strain was also confirmed there. The situation regionally and in the city of Gotemba is such. Gotemba Mayor Masami Katsumata notes, “Covid-19 is overwhelming wherever there are Marine bases: Okinawa, Iwakuni. My truly great worry is this situation where it is spreading widely in the blink of an eye.”  At this point, the spread of the contagion keeps getting wider and wider from the areas that have American Military bases. On 5 January in Yamaguchi Prefe...

Okinawa Prefecture announced on the morning of 5 January that it expected the number of Covid-19  infected people to rise to around 600. Compared to last Wednesday’s report of 27 cases, that is 22 times more, and compared to the report of 4 January, the previous day, it is 2.6 times higher. Within the prefecture, Omicron is continuing to replace other strains.  On 5 January, a panel of experts in health care and economics will convene a meeting to hear opinions on prevention policy going forward. Within this week, the group will adjust the “Special Contagion Prevention Measures” for suitable application. Within the prefecture, in the more than 40 days leading up to mid-December last year, the number of victims per day ranged around ten. But then came a dramatic expansion. As the new year opened on 4 January, the infections shot up to a total of 458 cases. Added to those infected on 5 January, the number of cases will surpass 1,000. On 4 January, the number of US Military affil...

On 4 January, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki offered his New Year’s Greeting to employees at the Prefectural Office. He declared, in reference to the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s Reversion to Japan, “While taking in the various opinions of the people of our prefecture, I’m going to consider how proposals and declarations will be done hereafter.  The governor also referred to former Okinawa Governor Chobyo Yara, who led the Ryukyu government before and after Reversion. Yara had compared his image of Okinawa with its reality when he penned his “Proposal on Reversion Policy”, also called the “Yara Proposal” to the National Government. Moreover, his plan formulated a proposal or declaration pointing out a renewed image for a future Okinawa. Governor Tamaki explained the Yara Proposal, “Governor Yara was writing about an Okinawa reborn, gathering together its shattered bones, considering the priority of the prefectural people’s welfare, establishing regional autonomy, anti-war, pro-peac...

On 2 January, Okinawa Prefecture reported 70 newly confirmed Covid infections among the US Military (Commander of US Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Ricky N. Rupp) in the prefecture. There were over 300 cases on both 1 and 2 January. Governor Denny Tamaki held a press conference. He noted that the infections have spread widely even outside the bases and, “There is no doubt that the US Military is the cause.” He further criticized the American response. It offered a detailed breakdown such as number of cases by base, but no clarification on whether the Omicron strain was included. The total of US Military cases has risen to 3,683, and the prefectural totals do not include them. The number of confirmed prefectural cases has risen to a level between 40 and 50 since the end of 2021. Because of the Military’s lack of thorough prevention measures such as the use of masks and Covid testing, the governor offered this strong criticism, “I’ll bear in mind my intense rage. I’m telling you, don’t...

On 1 January, Okinawa Prefecture announced that 235 new cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed among the US Military in Okinawa (Commander of US Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Ricky N. Rupp). According to the report the Prefecture received from the US Military, the number announced hit the highest yet for any one day.  The Military claimed that whether or not the infections of the 235 were associated with or a variant of the Omicron strain was undetermined. On 17 December 2021, a huge cluster of the virus was confirmed within the prefecture at the US Marine base Camp Hansen in and around the town of Kin. At year end, the number of infections increased from 45 on 30 December to 98 on 31 December, bringing the total for December alone to 522. As to the cause of the increase, the US Military is said to have told the Prefecture, “We haven’t been able to analyse all the information.  We’re in the middle of our investigation.”   Governor Denny Tamakihas requested that the US Mi...

The US Military reported to Okinawa Prefecture that on 30 December there were 45 new Covid-19 infections related to its bases. That more than doubled the 20 reported on 29 December. After 31 December, a report is expected in which the breakdown of new infections by base will classify the strain in all cases as undetermined. There is a fear of widespread infection not only with the cluster at Camp Hansen, but across all the US Military bases in Okinawa.  Also, on 30 December, Governor Denny Tamaki pointed out that, at the beginning of December, a large contingent of 1,000 troops entered Okinawa from the US. They came in without receiving PCR tests and were active inside and outside their base without wearing masks. The governor explained that he had requested that the US Military raise the level of its health care system with measures such as thorough prevention at the border, requiring PCR tests of all military and their dependents, and prohibition of base entrance and exits. It ha...

The Prefecture announced 50 new Covid-19 infections among people between the ages of 10 and 99 on 30 December. The total was twice that of the previous Thursday and the first time the one day total of victims hit 50 in the 91 days since 30 September. The number of possible cases of the Omicron strain surpassed the previous 21 and reached 36. Governor Denny Tamaki confirmed his acknowledgement that the municipal-wide spread of Omicron contagion had begun, at an unscheduled press conference on 30 December.  He further shared his anticipation that, if large-scale contagion continues, he will increase the Prefecture’s warning level. The governor noted, “If the epidemic becomes larger as the new year begins, there’s a possibility that I will even have to request limitations on activities.” In addition, he again called for full preventive measures against the virus as the old year ends and the new one begins.  Currently, the prefectural warning level is 1 (epidemic caution). If infe...