Denny in the News

Splendor of Okinawa: Slender Dwarf Morning Glory, roadside Uruma, 25ap26 On 8 May, Governor Denny Tamaki spoke on the capsize of 2 boats in offing at Henoko in Nago in his prefecture.  The father of one of the victims, Doshisha International High School (Kyoto Prefecture) second year student Tomoka Takeishi (17), issued a post on the Internet platform Note, and Governor Tamaki confirmed that he had seen it. The governor noted, “It’s actually just as the bereaved family stated.” On 31 May, Tomoka’s father issued a post on Note to Governor Tamaki, asking, “If Okinawa Prefecture offers the theme of peace education aimed at high school students on the issue of the relocation of the base to Henoko, does the governor endorse the course content and how it’s presented?” However, on 2 June, Governor Tamaki stated, “Even though I have yet to see the post, there is such talk, and I’ve heard such questions.” After arriving for work at the Prefectural Office on the morning of 8 June, Governor T...

Splendor of Okinawa: Pink, roadside Uruma, 25ap26 A forum was held on 7 June in Fujisawa City in Kanazawa Prefecture from Kanazawa's perspective, considering its being second to Okinawa in carrying the burden of bases for US Forces stationed in Japan. Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki’s speech revealed the bizarre truth that, although Okinawa Prefecture contains only 0.6% of Japan’s total land mass, 70.3% of facilities dedicated to the use of US Forces in Japan are concentrated in his prefecture. Governor Tamaki stressed, “After World War II, US bases on mainland Japan were systematically reduced. However, even since Okinawa’s reversion to Japan in 1972, a large number of US Military bases have continued to be constructed on the basis of the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Our prefecture’s people are still bearing on their backs this extraordinary burden of military bases!” As you in Kanazawa well know from your hosting Atsugi Base, I think we have a common feeli...

Splendor of Okinawa: Busy Lizzie, roadside Uruma, 25ap26 On his 3 June 2026 broadcast “Day Day”, on Japan Television, MC Ryota Yamasato of the comedy group Nanjai Candies called out to Governor Denny  Tamaki to respond to the questions asked by the bereaved parents of the Henoko capsized boats accident, piling on to its reverberations. He noted, “It’s important that, as governor, the questions posed by the parents” On 31 May, the father of the school girl who was a victim in the capsized boat accident in the offing at Henoko issued a post on the social media platform Note. In it, the father posed the following question, “If Okinawa Prefecture themes its peace education on the topic of the relocation of the base to Henoko and aims it at high school students, did Denny Tamaki, as governor, endorse the course design and how it was presented?” The Sankei Shimbun reported that on 2 June, Governor Tamaki had responded, “Although I haven’t yet read that post, opinions such as that have ar...

Splendor of Okinawa: Treasure Flower, roadside Uruma, 25my26 With the work of restoration still in progress, the opening to the public of the main hall of Okinawa Prefecture’s Shuri Castle has been set for 23 November this year. Greeting the press squad on record with the news on the morning of 4 June, Governor Denny Tamaki said with a smile, “The feeling has taken shape that ‘our Shuri Castle’ will be restored once again by our very own hands. I want to share  this joy with all of you!” Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Thursday 4 June at 10:40 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/edc5b739c1cc6403ad362203326d0b977527935f 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 ne...

  Splendor of Okinawa: Hibiscus, roadside Uruma,16 my26 “Yutabon”, a former dropout now a YouTuber, updated his X account with a new post on 3 June 2026. In it he criticized Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki, regarding a post on Note from the bereaved parents of a victim in the Henoko offing boat accident, accusing the governor of making statements “Without even looking at their post”, adding, “Although the situation and their thoughts were written on Note for him!” Students from Doshisha International High School visiting Okinawa on a study tour became victims in a boating accident in the offing at Henoko. On 31 May, the father of a school girl killed in the accident posted comments on Note, such as, “If Okinawa Prefecture uses peace education materials about the relocation of a base to Henoko, that are aimed at high school students, does Governor Denny Tamaki endorse how they are dealt with and how the course is designed?” According to a report in Sankei Shimbun, Governor ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Madagascar Periwinkle, roadside Uruma,16my26 On the morning of 2 June, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his thinking on the way forward in peace education, considering the new base construction at Henoko.  The governor noted, “I am hopeful of considering  a program in which people themselves  can study the essential aspects of education, as children broaden their studies through thinking and discussion.” That response was prompted by a reporter’s query on an opinion posted on the site Note by the relatives of the high school girl who was killed in the capsized boats accident in the offing at Henoko.  The opinion posted on Note read, “If the Prefecture uses  peace education materials on the Henoko base relocation issue aimed at High school students,  we’d like to have even Governor Denny Tamaki himself  tell us for reference to what extent did he recommend the course and deal with its design?” 　 However, the govern...

Splendor of Okinawa: Pink Wood Sorrel, roadside Uruma, 17my26 Small boats capsized in the offing at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of two, one of them a school girl on a study excursion from Doshisha International High School in Kyoto Prefecture.  In response, the Ministry of Education and Science censured the high school’s study excursion as a violation of the basic education law. On that topic, on 25 May, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki expressed his feelings, noting, “That was sticking its nose in too far!” For their high school’s studies about the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield to Henoko, the students had been boarded on small boats. On 22 May, the Ministry of Education and Science ruled that such studies violated section 14 of the law prohibiting schools from engaging in political activity. The Ministry pointed out, “The treatment of the studies was biased toward a specific way of  thinking or viewing things.” It also ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Philippine Ground Orchid, roadside Uruma 16my26 In the face of Typhoon 6 nearing the Okinawa region, on the morning of 30 May, the first Disaster Prevention Headquarters Meeting (chair: Governor Denny Tamaki) was held.  At the meeting, it was confirmed that a typhoon would be near the Okinawa region from 1-2 June and that there would be the possibility of high and extremely strong winds, and alarm-level rain.  Governor Tamaki requested that prior preparations be made and non-essential and non-urgent outdoor activities be avoided, urging, “We would urge people living in areas where damage is feared to evacuate quickly before harm becomes imminent.” He further added that they should act,  prioritizing action to preserve their lives. At the meeting, the Okinawa Meteorological Observatory reported that, in the regions of Okinawa and Miyako Islands, it was sternly warning of fierce winds, and in the regions of Yaeyama and Daito Island, it would be necessar...

Splendor of Okinawa: Tropical Milkweed, roadside Uruma, 25my26 At a press conference on 29 May, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki spoke on the capsized boats accident in the offing at Henoko in Nago of his prefecture. The Ministry of Education and Science has ruled that Kyoto Prefecture‘s Doshisha International High School’s study program violated political neutrality.  Governor Tamaki criticized that ruling, asserting, “An accident is an accident and ought to be impartially responded to as such. Peace studies are peace studies and ought to be carried on as such!” He  stressed, “It’s ridiculous to investigate education as the cause of an accident.” On the Ministry’s ruling, the governor heaped criticism, asserting, “It is universally held that inappropriate interference by administrative authority is unacceptable.” The accident in question happened on 16 March. ( Trans. note: It’s a bit ironic that the Education Ministry has ruled that the study of the impact of foreig...

Splendor of Okinawa: Busy Lizzie 25my26 It has been learned that two days before Governor Denny Tamaki’s supporters were to hold a 24 April gathering for his Prefectural Gubernatorial Election campaign, death threats against him were mailed to the site. According to related sources, on 22April, 2 days before the gathering would be held, mail arrived at the Okinawa City facility sited for the event.  The mailed death threat claimed, “On 24 May, we’re going to kill Denny Tamaki, who is running for election, but has until now  concealed his relationship with the Communist Party!”  In response, Governor Tamaki stated, “Safety first! We’ve called for systematic cooperation with the Prefectural Police. We were in collaboration with the Okinawa City Police yesterday, but we can only hope there is no more such mail.” But similar threats keep occurring. On 17 April, mail was sent to places, such as the site in Naha of a speech where Governor Tamaki took the podium,  with the ...

Splendor of Okinawa: Day Lily, roadside Uruma, 25my26 On 24 May, an assembly of Governor Denny Tamaki’s supporters was held at the Agricultural Research Center in Okinawa City. Because a case of mail threatening the death of Governor Tamaki was received there, Okinawa Prefectural Police are proceeding with an investigation. The gathering was sponsored by the governor’s citizen supporters. The mail, addressed to the Agricultural Research Center, was posted on 22 May.  The subject line of the mail included the threat, “We’re going to kill you”, and threatened the murder of the governor . The contents of the mail also included mention of a captain in the boat capsize accident in the offing at Henoko in Nago, threatening, “We want to kill him next!” On report of the threats, officers from the Okinawa City Police Station were put on guard at the 24 May gathering. However, no noticeable trouble  was evident. Moreover, on 17 May, mail was received addressed to the office of Ryukyu Sh...

Splendor of Okinawa: Flamingo Lily, roadside Uruma, 25my26 Answering on record to press corps queries at the Prefectural Office. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki spoke on the Prefecture’s peace education, which studies such matters as the Okinawa Campaign at the end of World War II and US Military base issues.  The governor noted, “In order to nourish the thinking power of students in studying their regional history, the Prefecture’s peace studies are unbiased overall”  After the accident involving the capsize of boats in the offing at Henoko in Nago in the prefecture, criticism has been rising on social media sites. The governor’s statement seemed to be a rebuttal of that. In response to the accident, the Ministry of Education and Science criticized Doshisha International High School (Kyoto Prefecture) over its studies program, claiming it violated political neutrality. The governor criticized the Ministry in turn, noting, “It stepped in too far! Original Japanese article: Kyod...

Splendor of Okinawa: Great Bougainvillea, roadside Uruma, 3my26 Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki heaped criticism on the Ministry of Education and Science’s ruling that Doshisha International High School’s (Kyoto Prefecture) study program, during which boats capsized in an accident in the offing at Nago’s Henoko in his prefecture, violated political neutrality. At a gathering held in Okinawa City, on 24 May, the governor stated, “It’s not even an overstatement to say that Okinawa’s peace studies has been stood at the brink of collapse by this ruling. I can only call it an unwarranted intervention into education!” The governor further argued, stressing the restraint of peace studies, “This cannot but become a situation where no opportunity can be made for the give and take of ideas among people, of truth and of witness.” The governor added his plea regarding  the right or wrong of the Ministry of Education and Science’s ruling, “This ruling must be verified from each and eve...

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden Trumpet (Ryukyuan: Ippei), roadside Uruma, 24my26 The Ministry of Education and Science judged that, in the case of the capsize of boats accident in the offing at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Doshisha International High School (Kyoto Prefecture)’s studies program violated political neutrality. In an on-record response to the press squad on that judgment, after a supporters meeting held in the prefecture’s Uruma City on 23 May, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki criticized the judgment, noting, “The very foundation of peace education is to offer environments for its study. When the Ministry comes barging into that area, it takes a step too far.” Governor Tamaki emphatically added, “The Ministry of Education and Science’s handling of this can be expected to spread and reverberate  greatly. However, I want to struggle to keep its impact away from our schools and children!” On the other hand, the governor said of the accident, “We will reflect o...