Denny in the News

On 15 May next year, Okinawa will hold ceremonies for the fiftieth anniversary of its reversion to Japan. It has been learned that the Prefecture is considering ceremonies at 2 venues, one in Okinawa and the other in Tokyo. During questioning at the regular November session of the prefectural Assembly on 6 December, Vice-governor Kiichiro Jahana responded to questioning by Dai Shimabukuro of the Okinawa LDP. Opinions had been exchanged between the Prefecture and the National Government on how to handle the celebrations including measures against Covid-19. In response to Representative Shimabukuro, Vice-governor Jahana explained, “It’s a matter of the gravity of it being half a century since reversion. With Tokyo as a venue, perhaps we can gather every prefectural governor as well as all Japan’s ambassadors. We’ve brought in the Cabinet Office and are assiduously working on considerations.” At every 10 year juncture, an anniversary ceremony has been held. Both the Prefecture and the Nat...

Governor Denny Tamaki participated for the first time in the Prefectural People’s Mass Action held in front of the US Military Camp Schwab gate at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa, on 4 December. He once again announced his rejection of the request for landfill changes associated with the new base construction due to work to strengthen soft soil. Speaking at the outset of the rally on the timing of his rejection, the governor explained, “We only wanted time for our Prefectural Engineering and Construction Departments along with our Environmental Department to politely make a detailed survey. I’ve announced to you all that, clearly at this stage, suitable reasons for the request for permission for the changes could not be recognized.” He criticized the Government's Oura Bay landfill, “Although the Government knew full well that the soil was soft, they set out on their illegal landfill ill-prepared.” He continued, pointing out, “From here, they should stop the work at this point and survey th...

Governor Denny Tamaki attended the Prefectural Peoples’ Great Rally held on 4 December in front of the US Military Camp Schwab at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa. Cry after cry of welcome arose from the prefecture’s people such as, “It’s a delight to hear the governor’s thoughts directly,” and, “With this our momentum is once again gathering!”  As Governor Tamaki grasped the mike, applause, whistles, and shouts of welcome arose from the participants. With the announcement of his rejection of the request for permission to make changes in the landfill, cries of support rose up such as, “Well done!,” and, “Let’s take this to the finish together!”  Keiichi Yamauchi (71) of Yomitan showed his excitement at the governor’s participation with, “I’m deeply moved!” He continued, “Both the governor and I share the same feeling. We’re not flinching. We want to meet our nation face to face with confidence.” Emiko Miyagi (72) of Naha spoke enthusiastically, “I felt like the rejection was being drag...

  After an incident in which fire extinguisher sewage leaked from a US Military oil storage facility  at Konbu in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, about 80,000 nanograms per liter of the organic fluorine compound PFAS was  discovered during  a survey by the Japanese Government, the Prefecture, and the US military. On the afternoon of 3 December, Governor Denny Tamaki stopped to comment, “Because the values varied from one report to another, we were  meeting with the National Government and the US military on how to announce this publicly.” The results showed about 1600 times the national standard value of 50 nanograms per liter.  The survey was carried out in June of this year, but neither the National Government, the Prefecture, nor the US Military were announcing the results publicly. The governor claimed, “The situation was waiting for a report from the US side.” He was responding to the press corps at the Prefectural Office. Original Japanese article: Okinaw...

Jon Mitchel, a special contract correspondent for this paper who had illuminated the problem of PFAS (derived organic fluorine compounds) pollution from US military bases  and the follow-up of the 1955 case of a US Army sergeant who assaulted and murdered a young girl, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Denny Tamaki at the Prefectural Office on 1 December. Telling the governor, “PFAS have a profound effect on the bodies of children” Mitchel proposed that evidence be gathered by an examination of the blood of the prefecture’s people. In reference to the 1955 assault and murder of the young girl, Mitchel explained how the sergeants death penalty had been commuted to 45 years in a US prison and he was paroled 22 years later in 1977. Raising the fact that the sergeant had been awarded a tombstone for his military service by the US government, Mitchel proposed writing a letter to President Biden informing  him this was not in line with the wishes of the prefecture’s people and urgin...

  On 1 December, Okinawa Prefecture held its Floating Pumice Countermeasures Conference, which is a meeting of every department on the problem of the flow of large swathes of pumice into the prefecture. As the nation is carrying out a disaster assessment, there was a shared awareness that if no decision were made on how to make use of the collected pumice, it would be possible to take care of it by disposal. On the other hand, since there is concern that the flow of pumice will extend over a long time, it was pointed out that  there is room to get the nation’s understanding for storage of the pumice until a use can be found.The Prefecture is soliciting ideas for using the pumice from the public right now. As of 29 November, 5 ideas have been received such as for herbicides and absorbents for heavy oil spills. The Prefecture will be looking for ways to use the pumice until the solicitation for ideas ends on 8 December. However, since the pumice is highly saline, caution is bein...

With the news that 3 Marine MV22 Ospreys took off from the US Military Naha Bay Port Facility (Naha Military Port), Governor Denny Tamaki announced from a written statement on 30 November, “They’re mocking the will of the prefecture’s people. Our anger is unrelenting.” He had previously made a request to both the Japanese and American governments that not even one more aircraft be permitted to takeoff or land at Naha Military Port. At the return of Okinawa Prefecture to  Japan, Protocol 5.5 set out terms for the use of US military facilities in Okinawa. That protocol strictly nailed down how they would be used. The governor pointed out that prior to the takeoffs and landings notification was given to neither the Prefecture nor the City of Naha. He stressed, “The normalization of the use of aircraft at Naha Military Port increases the burden of bases on the prefecture’s people. It’s absolutely unacceptable.” On the very day after she had protested such acts, Naha’s mayor reacted wit...

A fresh face, Yohei Kishimoto (48) of the Nago City Assembly has made clear his candidacy in the 23 January 2022 mayoral election in Nago, Okinawa, with the support of All Okinawa. On 28 November he held a rally in Nago to announce his platform.  The issue that will loom large in the campaign is the problem of the new base construction at Henoko. Kishimoto emphasized his stance in opposition, “It will wreck the natural environment. The landfill at Oura Bay in Henoko runs counter to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I’m firm in my decision to refuse to allow the new base construction!” Among the 7 pillars of his platform, he especially lauded child educational support and local economic revitalization. As for policies he wants to emphasize, he announced the establishment of a fund to promote child education and more, support for product sales and start-up business through the newly established Nago City Net Sales Department and the also newly established Meio University Pharmacy...

(Nago) On 23 January next year, Nago will hold the election for its city mayor. All Okinawa’s strength is backing a fresh candidate, Yohei Kishimoto (48) of the City Assembly. On 28 November, Kishimoto held a meeting in the city of Nago to announce his political objectives. He made public his stance on important issues such as childcare and school lunch fees, the continuation of free medical care for children, and cooperation with the Prefecture in its opposition to the new base construction at Henoko. Referring to the continuation of free childcare, he laid out a plan to establish a fund with the motto of “Child Sun Fund.” He lauded it with, “We want total support from infancy to university!” He also praised the new Pharmacy Department at Nago’s Meio University and Nago City Hall’s own establishment of its Internet Special Sales Department. In regard to the new base construction at Henoko linked to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield, he made clear his support of Govern...

The US Military Futenma Airfield is slated to be moved to a new site at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa. However, the soft ground at the site along the coastline has become increasingly problematic. At the first stage, 3 years before the beginning of the landfill in 2015, the contractor for the geological survey found problems with the ground. The Okinawa Defense Bureau of the Defense Ministry received that report.  These facts just became known on 27 November. Defense Bureau materials relating to the construction clearly showed concerns that “sinking over the long term be considered.” Kyodo News acquired the materials under a freedom of information request. The National Government did not make such details public at the time. On 25 November, Governor Denny Tamaki refused a Defense Bureau request for a change in the Henoko design including reinforcing the soft ground, stating, “Expectations of its completion are unfounded.” The National Government plans to take countermeasures to pursue th...

On hearing news of Governor Denny Tamaki’s refusal of permission  for the National Governments request for design changes in the new base construction in Okinawa Prefecture at Henoko in Nago, a rally was held at the Prefectural People’s Square in Naha on 26 November: The All Okinawa Assembly to Halt New Base Construction at Henoko. They were there in support of Governor Tamaki’s decision vigorously raising up the cry, “Let’s shove them in a corner and halt the new base construction at Henoko!” House of Councillors Member Yoichi Iha pointed out, “There were collapses in the landfill with earthquakes at level 1 or 2. We can’t let them finish building a base that might well collapse in a level 3 quake.” The joint representative for All Okinawa, Norio Oshiro, pleaded, “Let’s go raise our voices to the whole nation, the whole World, to stop Henoko. Governor Tamaki also sent a message to the rally, “Insofar as the determination of the prefecture’s people remains strong, they’ll never get...

Speaking in Naha to the press corps on 25 November, Ginowan Mayor Masanori Matsugawa commented on Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki’s rejection of permission for the design changes requested for the Henoko landfill, “ I can only feel regret that the date for the return (to Okinawan control) of Futenma Airfield will be prolonged.” Mayor Matsugawa pointed out that if the relocation of the base within the prefecture is not accepted, in addition to showing an acknowledgement  that the Futenma return will be difficult, “With the delay crimes and accidents will continue, and even springs and wells within the base can’t be inspected.” He further commented on the fierce standoff between the National Government and the Prefecture, “Looking forward to next year’s fiftieth anniversary of Okinawa’s return to Japan, I’m worried about the decision on the next Okinawa Promotion Plan and the compilation of the budget. The timing of the rejection was not very good.” Original Japanese article: Okinawa ...

In connection with the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield, a new base is under construction at Henoko in the city of Nago. The Okinawa Defense Bureau has submitted design changes to the Prefecture for construction such as improvements in the soft seabed. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has solidified his intention to refuse permission for the changes. At around 5:30 in the evening of 25 November, the governor will hold a press conference to explain his position to the people of the prefecture. In the morning of the same day, prefectural executives explained his position to the Prefectural Assembly. The regular Prefectural Assembly November session began at 10 a.m. the same day. At the session, a proposal for a supplementary budget to respond to the floating pumice problem was introduced. After the Prefectural Executive Department ended their day’s session, the governor’s position was explained at a meeting of the whole Assembly. As for the process for making the refusal, at a...

On 22 November, Okinawa Prefecture held its second meeting of its conference of  relevant directors on measures to deal with the floating pumice problem. A basic disposal plan of 7 points to deal with collection and reuse was decided. For methods of reuse, it was decided to make use of ideas from private business and others. Ideas will be solicited from 24 November until 8 December. The National Government will guarantee management of depositories for the collected pumice in question in cooperation with municipalities. Prefectural residents, city resident groups, municipalities, and scholastic research organizations will work together on the project. They will amass  ideas on moving ahead with collection and reuse, use of the expertise of  the municipalities in the work of collection, and financial assistance. Governor Denny Tamaki stressed,  “Let’s gather together the forces of the people and the officials and go to work with a sense of speed to get this done.” The ...

On 20 November, a huge transport CH53E helicopter, apparently based at Futenma Airfield, came flying into the US Military Naha Port Bay Facility (Naha Military Port). At least the one helicopter landed and parked in the facility. At the same facility, 3 vertical takeoff and landing transport MV22 Osprey aircraft from the same base also flew in, leaving 4 aircraft parked inside the facility as of 10 p.m. on 22 November. According to the response Okinawa Prefecture got from the Okinawa Defense Bureau, the US Military is characterizing the issue as “routine maneuvers.” Okinawa Prefecture Vice-governor Kiichiro Jahana protested by phone on 20 November to Okinawa Defense Bureau Chief Isao Ono, “We can’t just overlook actions that ignore the region and its residents.” He further requested that Ono review the provision of information and the rules for handling aircraft transport. On 19 November, both Governor Denny Tamaki and Naha Mayor Mikiko Shiroma announced with a clear voice their  o...