February 27, 2014 Ryota Shimabukuro reports from Washington D.C.
The U.S. Congressional Research Service released a report entitled “Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress” on February 20. It praised Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima’s approval of the Henoko landfill because it allows the United States and Japan to clear an important political hurdle in the plan to relocate the Futenma base. However, it warned, “There remains a risk that heavy-handed actions by...
February 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
Naha Mayor Takeshi Onaga announced his administrative policy for the new fiscal year at a regular meeting of the City Council held on February 18.
Onaga talked about promoting the use of the land returned by the U.S. military. He said, “The Japanese...
February 9, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
Before February 8, the Okinawa Defense Bureau provided the U.S. Marine Corps with the application documents for the Henoko landfill to prepare for moving Futenma Air Station and the environmental impact assessment report. The bureau gave the Marine Corps the full...
February 14, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
In Tokyo on February 13, Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine held a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan for the first time. He announced to visit the United States as early as April. Reelected in the mayoral election, Inamine intends to...
February 13, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy held a meeting with Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine at a hotel in Naha in the afternoon of February 12. Inamine asked the ambassador to abandon the plan of moving the Futenma base to Henoko, Nago, saying, “I do not want to...
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakima has approved land reclamation work in the Henoko district of Nago in preparation for moving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Japanese and U.S. government are promoting the relocation plan. However, many Okinawan people continue to oppose the plan to reclaim...
On February 7, 29 internationally prominent intellectuals released a statement that opposes moving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the Henoko district in Nago and seeks the prompt closure and return of the base. The Ryukyu Shimpo introduces their messages to the readers.
Stand...
February 4, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Nago City Council held an extraordinary session on February 3. It adopted a statement protesting against Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaime approval of the Henoko landfill and seeking the withdrawal of this approval. The city council also adopted a statement...
January 31, 2014 Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
Susumu Matayoshi, the head of the Executive Office of the Governor, met Marc Knapper, director of the Office of Japanese Affairs and Andrew Winternitz, the Pentagon director for Japan policies at the Department...
January 31, 2014 Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
On January 29, Keiko Itokazu, a member of the Upper House and a leader among the anti-U.S. base movement, and Naha City councilors held a news conference in Washington D.C. They spoke about their direct appeal...
January 25, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Okinawa Defense Bureau investigated the habitat of the endangered species the dugong from an aircraft over 35 days between September 2011 to January 2013 in preparation for moving the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago. They confirmed...
