Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Oxalis, roadside Uruma, 16fe23 On 5 February, the 50th anniversary of the founding of Uruma Municipal Yokatsu No. 2 Junior High School (Principal Yoko Yoshihira) and the ceremony for completion of its gymnasium were held. A storm of applause broke out when, in a surprise appearance, Governor Denny Tamaki, a member of its third graduating class, took the stage.  Looking fondly back at his own days at the school, the governor quipped, “I remember that we even began classes as pebble pickers on the sports ground!” He cheered the students on with, “I hope that you will become human resources that will spread your wings widely in the world.” At the gymnasium opening ceremony, those involved celebrated it with a ribbon cutting. The 50th Anniversary program opened with a Kajadifuu (traditional Okinawan dance with music) by the students. Student President Ryoma Arakaki exhorted his fellow students, “After our graduation, let’s not let past graduates beat us in service ...

  Splendor of Okinawa: Cosmos, Yogi Park Naha, 17fe23 Gold medalist in Male Karate Performance at the Tokyo Olympics Okinawa-born Ryo Kiyuna has announced his retirement. On the morning of 17 February, on arrival at the Prefectural Office, Governor Denny Tamaki lauded Kiyuna’s achievements to date in response to queries from the general media, noting, “He has given especially great hope and courage to the people and the youth of Okinawa Prefecture. For us, he has built a great landmark by, time and again, giving notice of Okinawa’s tradition as the cradle of karate to the world at large.”  The governor also alluded to the 6 Asian Karate Championships won in a row in Male Karate Performance by Arata Kinjo and Takuya Uemura, who are also both retiring. He noted, “It’s too bad that they’re retiring. But actually, I feel they’ve left an enormous footprint on the sport. We have great expectations that each of them will continue in providing leadership to the next generation.” The t...