Archive for the Editorial Category

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Editorial – Looking to the new year, is democracy in Japan genuine?

January 1, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo

We have entered the final year of the Heisei era. 2019 looks to be a year in which the existence of democracy in Okinawa, and subsequently Japan as a whole, will be brought into question. This is because while an overwhelming majority of Okinawans oppose it, the Japanese government is ramming through land reclamation at Henoko as part of the MCAS Futenma relocation.

If this continues in its current state, the heavy handed methods suppressing the will...

　

Editorial: U.S. scholars request base closure as new base construction goes against global trend

 

December 7, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The Overseas Base Realignment and Closure Coalition (OBRACC), a group comprised of U.S. experts and former high-level public officials, recently released a letter to Congress calling for the closure of U.S. bases in Okinawa, Europe,...

The re-opening of Henoko construction is the exact opposite of “Embracing Okinawa”

 

November 2, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The re-opening of construction at Henoko is the exact opposite of what was explained...

Editorial : The Japanese government suing to allow land filling is a reckless trampling of democracy

October 18, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

When Okinawa’s former governor revoked approval for land filling activities as part of the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Henoko in Nago City, the Japanese government took countermeasures. Those came in the form of demanding that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure,...

Editorial – Newly elected Governor Tamaki announces his opposition to new U.S. military bases

 

October 1, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The Okinawa gubernatorial election, held after the passing of Governor Takeshi...

Editorial: Governor Onaga, who gave his life to fulfill his duty, dies from pancreatic cancer

 

August 9, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Governor Takeshi Onaga, who had been battling progressing pancreatic cancer, died on August 8.

He was 67 years old.

Onaga underwent surgery in April earlier this year, but the cancer cells spread to his liver.

From...

Editorial: After Governor Onaga’s announcement to revoke land-filling approval, new base construction should be called off

 

July 28, 2018 by Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Governor Takeshi Onaga announced his plan to nullify Okinawa’s approval of...

Editorial: 46 years after the reversion of Okinawa to Japan, a fundamental change to Okinawan Promotion must be made

May 15, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

On May 15, 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japanese control. In November of 1971, at the 67th extraordinary Diet, also known as the Okinawan Diet, Chief Executive of the Government of the Ryukyus Chobyo Yara submitted a proposal outlining steps to return...

Editorial: Missile defense unit on Okinawa’s main island is an overreaction that invites danger

February 20, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

The progressing militarization of the Ryukyu Islands is a dangerous plan. It should not even be worth considering.
The Japanese government is currently considering deploying a surface-to-ship missile defense unit on Honto, the main Okinawan island. They...

Editorial: It is too soon to say if Nago City’s Mayor Toguchi accepts the new base

February 5, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

The issue of MCAS Futenma’s relocation to Henoko, Nago City was the major issue at hand in the Nago mayoral election. Taketoyo Toguchi, an independent new candidate endorsed by the Japanese government which is advancing construction in Henoko, beat the independent...

Editorial: U.S. Colonel’s remark comparing cars to military aircraft shows military’s unchanged arrogant sense of authority

 

January 24, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

 

Colonel Darin Clarke, who manages the Marines’ government and external affairs in the Pacific, made a comment in response to the protest resolution from the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly about consecutive U.S. military...