Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Confederate Jasmine, roadside Uruma, 2no25. A new base is being constructed at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture. At a press conference on the morning of 28 November, Governor Denny Tamaki confirmed the dumping of rubble for a landfill in a new section along Oura Bay, “The Okinawa Defense Bureau informed me that, as soon as necessary  preparations are ready, they’ll set to work today.” According to Defense Ministry sources, they expect to start dumping rubble  on the afternoon of the same day. If so, this will be the first  real work on a landfill in that section of Oura Bay. On the driving of sand-filled piles for strengthening the weak seabed, which has been halted for over five months, the governor  pointed out, “There’s been concern over the length of the project’s duration. With this delay, the situation of the difficulty of successfully completing the whole landfill has become more and more apparent.” To the Japanese Government, the govern...

Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, roadside Uruma, 9no25 For long years at the spring and summer High School Baseball Koshien Tournaments, the brass band of Amagasaki Municipal High School in Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture has performed to cheer on teams representing Okinawa. On 5 November, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki presented the brass band squad a certificate of thanks for its support. The conductor of the school’s brass band and a former teacher at the school,  Yasutaka Haneji (77) is a native of Miyakojima City on Okinawa Prefecture’s Irabu Island. Since increasing transportation fees for sending a cheerleading squad had become onerous, an Okinawa Prefectural citizens grip held discussions with him and he began his cheerleading band performances in 1981. Since 1997, while at the same school, he has cheered on teams at over 150 games with his music. So, on 5 November, when Governor Denny Tamaki visited the high school, he was welcomed by the brass band, led by Co...

Splendor of Okinawa: Crown of Thorns, roadside Uruma, 26oc25 On 5 November, Governor Denny Tamaki visited Amagasaki Municipal Senior High School in Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture, whose band has long cheered on teams from Okinawa Prefecture playing at the Spring and Summer High School Baseball Koshien Tournaments,  to present a certificate of thanks to its brass band. Since it is burdensome for teams to secure transportation funds for a band to travel from Okinawa with them, each year since 1997, Amagasaki High has performed out of fellowship for the Okinawan teams.  On this day, the brass band’s squad of about 150 musicians welcomed Governor Tamaki with a concert of favorites, such as Haisai Ojisan ! (trans. note: Hi, Granpa!), that have rocked Koshien. Governor Tamaki, passing on his prefecture‘s gratitude for their long years of support, responded, “You’ve given courage to our players with the full-hearted power of your performances!” Original Japanese article : Okinawa Time...

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden Dew drop, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 On 21 October, Governor Denny Tamaki responded on record to press corps queries, after learning of the Takaichi Cabinet solidified lineup. He requested a speedy dialogue with her on the reduction of the burden of US Military bases and a concrete reform of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) for the sake of Okinawa’s development. The governor also expressed his sense of wariness over the new prime minister’s policy on such items as the accelerated reform of the 3 Security Documents that her  Liberal Democratic (LDP) and Isshin Party coalition has been touting, noting, “With a sense of wariness, we have to keep a close watch over such matters.”  Governor Tamaki is requesting the reopening of an already existing committee and such, as well as a hopefully speedy direct dialogue with Prime Minister  Sanae Takaichi on such items as a meeting to expedite a reduction in the burden of Futenma Airfield The gove...

Splendor of Okinawa: Spirea, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 (NAHA BUREAU) At this year’s August 107th National High School Baseball Tournament, Okinawa Shogaku High School Baseball Team won its first championship. The award ceremony was held for them at Okinawa Prefectural Office, with people related to the school team in attendance. Governor Tamaki, with laudatory comments, handed the award certificate to Team Captain Tokuto Makishi and memorial gifts to Vice-Captain Shunsuke Minei. Original Japanese article: Miyako Daily News, published Wednesday 15 October 2025 at 09:57. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0c2e384503c434ecc1252dc121d43e6dea131c09 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 ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Madagascar Periwinkle, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 During their stay in Okinawa, members of the Hawaiian United Okinawa Association (HUOA), chaired by Frances Kubo, visited Governor Denny Tamaki on 17 October. In order to experience Okinawa’s culture and history more broadly, each year the group comes on a tour around the time of the Naha Great Rope Pull.  This year 61 members participated in the journey. To memorialize the emigration from Okinawa to Hawaii over the past 125 years and the 40th anniversary of the Sisterly Partnership between Okinawa and the US State of Hawaii, a series of events have been held. Chairperson Kubo reported that they had held a dance performance at Itoman’s Tower of Peace  and participated in Naha’s Great Rope Pull.   Chairperson Kubo further stated, “Since our arrival, our members have experienced, in the flesh, the chimu gukuru  (Ryukyuan: deep heart) of Okinawa. I’ve stated that it has changed our lives. We feel a ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Confederate Jasmine, roadside Uruma, 19oc25 Okinawa Shogaku High won its first championship at the National High School Baseball Tournament this summer. On 14 October in Naha, Governor Denny Tamaki presented a Prefectural People’s Merit Award to the team.  　 At the award ceremony on the first floor of the Prefectural Office Building, a bevy of prefectural residents rushed to get a peek of the team’s players. Governor Tamaki noted in his opening address, “You’ve brought a great thrill to our prefecture’s people. Your endeavors are worthy of this Prefectural People’s Merit Award.” Team Captain Takuto Makishi offered his expression of gratitude, stating, “This victory was thanks to all of you, our supporters from our prefecture, cheering us on from the stands up in the alps (trans. note: cheap seats far up the back of the stadium).” Coach Koya Higa repeatedly gushed, “Our kids played their hearts out, game after game. That’s how we achieved this fantastic result, ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Egyptian Star Cluster, roadside Uruma, 12oc25 The Okinawa Shogaku Baseball Team won its first championship at the 107th  National High School Baseball Tournament at Koshien Stadium. In recognition, on 14 October, the team was presented a Prefectural People’s Merit Award. Coach Koya Higa, who led the team, received a Prefectural Sports Special Leadership Award.  In addition, Hyogo Prefecture’s Amagasaki Municipal Brass Band Conductor Yasutaka Haneji (77), a native of Irabu Island in Okinawa, was handed a Certificate of Gratitude for conducting his band in cheering on teams representing Okinawa at Koshien over many years.  At the presentation ceremony on the first floor of the Prefectural Office, about 200 supporters were gathered. Governor Denny Tamaki lauded the  recipients joyfully, noting, “You’ve made a great impression on our prefecture’s people. Now, 80 years after the war’s end, you’ve become a hope for our children who will carry on our fu...

Splendor of Okinawa: Fanpetal, roadside Uruma, 12oc25 On 16 October, Symba Holdings (President: Takahide Asato) in Urasoe City opened Makishi Carnival, a food and drink hall of 18 pubs and restaurants with Music Bar Nuchi by WPU on the second floor, on the vacant site of the clothing section of the old Makishi Municipal Public Market. 　 Next July will be the grand opening of the entire Symba Base Commercial Complex on the vacant site  of the old  sundries department, including a Mexican restaurant  to open earlier. The “pub-crawl” themed Makishi Carnival is centered around Okinawa cuisine, with meaty soups, sushi, charcoal-cooked Japanese beef, raw clams, and even Italian food.  There is also a line of unique shops offering Okinawan whisky and other alcoholic drinks. At each shop, prefectural products, such as tuna sashimi, Okinawan “ agu ” pork, and Ishigaki beef, are used. At the music bar, distinctive cocktails inspired by Okinawa’s nature are on offer. It seems m...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ramgoat Dashalong, roadside Uruma, 12oc25. The Okinawa Shogaku Baseball Team received the Prefectural People’s Glory Award for winning the 107th National High School Baseball Tournament (Summer Koshien).  On 14 October, the Okinawa Shogaku Baseball Team and their coach Koya Higa (44) participated in the award ceremony held at the Prefectural Office. There, they were welcomed with  applause by the assembled prefectural people. Coach Higa was presented the Prefectural Sports Leadership Special  Award for leading his teams in the 2008 championship at the Spring Koshien and his victory at this year’s Summer Koshien. Coach Higa stated, “I have said that there is great significance in winning at Koshien as representatives of Okinawa schools with our limited environment. At Koshien, our students put up a tenacious fight for us. Hereafter as well, I want to concentrate on schools in general, so that  the level of Okinawa’s high school baseball with all o...

Splendor of Okinawa: Ribbon Plant, roadside Uruma, 12oc25 On 10 October, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered his speech, “Reflections on the 80 Years Since the End of the War”. On the morning of 14 October, Governor Denny Tamaki answered questions from the press corps about it. He pointed out, “With his understanding of our defeat in the last Great War, why didn’t the Prime Minister touch on why we didn’t avoid that war? That would’ve been especially meaningful.” Moreover, the governor spoke of the speech, noting, “The speech is significant in the sense that Prime Minister Ishiba gives us a  hint of how to discern the future through the study of past wars. Has the discourse of any previous prime minister ever had his level of dignity?” On the other hand, the governor also touched on such points as the progressively widening of SDF (Self Defense Force) and US military training  in the prefecture and the reinforcement of SDF bases. The governor also pointed out that in his s...