On December 21, Takeshi Tokashiki, Associate Professor at the University of the Ryukyus, presented the results of a low-frequency noise survey conducted at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Okinawa College in Henoko, Nago. The survey measured the impact of U.S. military helicopters from both inside and outside the college. Low-frequency noise recorded indoors exceeded the “mental impact threshold value,” while measurements outdoors surpassed “reference values for complaints of physical discomfort,” set by the Ministry of the Environment. For the first time, over-the-threshold measurements were recorded from within the college, revealing the reality that students are exposed to low-frequency noise emitted by U.S. military aircrafts, even indoors.
Standard-exceeding levels of low-frequency noise were recorded during the flight training of two CH-53 helicopters. During training in Osprey aircraft higher levels may be recorded, since Ospreys emit louder low-frequency noise than CH-53 helicopters.
The survey was carried out on December 15. From indoors, a 76.4 dB low-frequency level was measured at 20 Hz at 4:18 p.m. This exceeds the Ministry of the Environment’s “reference values for complaints of mental and physical discomfort” by 0.4 dB. From outdoors, 83.8 dB at 20 Hz was measured at 4:16 p.m. This surpasses the mental discomfort reference values by 7.8 dB and physical discomfort reference values by 3.6 dB. Physical discomfort includes the trembling of objects, among other factors.
Tokashiki stated, “We have succeeded in measuring low-frequency noise from indoors. If the new base is relocated to Henoko, it may amplify the impact of such low-frequency noise.”
In Ginowan Citizen’s Hall on December 18 the New Diplomacy Initiative held a symposium called “Considering Okinawa’s Future from Ginowan,” concerning the issues of bases, economics, and local autonomy. Participants exchanged opinions on the methods of Okinawa’s opposition to its oversize share of the base burden, ways to dispel misinformation about base economics, the justification argument for the base concentration as a deterrent, and the necessity of clearly promulgating Okinawans’ viewpoints.
Shigeaki Koga, former official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry took the podium and spoke in part about the argument that the US-Japan Security Treaty is unilateral, in that is does not give Japan any responsibility to defend the US. He pointed out that, “This argument completely overlooks the burden on Okinawa. Okinawans deal with noise, accidents, crime, and the humiliation of their intentions being trampled upon.” In addition, he emphasized that even though, “The US says that when push comes to shove it will come to the rescue,” the meaning is actually that the US acts unilaterally, because, “…[the US] is not chasing away the Chinese ships close to the Senkaku Islands.”
During the symposium, president of Kanehide Group Morimasa Goya spoke about his own support in an Okinawan election last year of a candidate who opposed the construction of a replacement facility for Futenma Air Station in Henoko. He said that this stand is not a political movement, but a movement for the protection of Okinawan human rights. Also, he made the point that it is precisely because the economy is important that peace and democracy must be valued.
President of Kariyushi Group Satoshi Toyama mentioned that even though it is said that Okinawans are discriminated against, tourists who visit Okinawa for sightseeing yearn to live there proudly. As a remedy, he proposed, “Wouldn’t it be good as ‘peace tourism’ to increase the number of buses that go to Henoko to 10 or 20 daily?”
Tatsuya Ishikawa, deputy editor in chief of Okinawa Times, brought up former Minister of Defense Satoshi Morimoto’s statement that the reason for the US Marine Corps being put in Okinawa is a political one. Ishikawa says that even though 90 percent of Japanese citizens approve of the Security Treaty, they do not want the bases in their own backyards. He proposes that Okinawans should raise their voices to say that this attitude is unacceptable.
The Japanese national government sued the Okinawa prefectural government in an attempt to override the prefecture’s authority and conduct proxy approval of the land reclamation permit needed for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko. Since then, local assemblies in other prefectures around Japan have increasingly expressed criticism of the Japanese government’s behavior. Some have even sought support for accepting U.S. military base functions in their own localities. Other local assemblies have expressed support for the Henoko relocation plan, but overall, there has been an increase in support for Okinawa’s allegation that the current base issue raises questions about the state of local autonomy in Japan. Many believe that for other localities to accept the U.S. military bases would be an effective way to lessen the burden on Okinawa.
At a Nara Prefectural Assembly meeting on December 4, assemblyman Masashi Kawaguchi of the progressive legislative faction Sosei Nara criticized the Japanese government’s legal action to conduct proxy approval of the land reclamation as authoritarian and tyrannical, saying that for the sake of protecting local autonomy, the government’s actions must not be excused.
Kawaguchi then asked the governor of Nara, Shogo Arai, if he would be willing to cooperate in trying to get the National Governor’s Association to protest in solidarity with Governor Onaga in his struggle with the national government. Governor Arai replied that due to the complex entanglement of national security issues and local issues involved, the problem is a difficult one to solve, and stated that as the governor of Nara, it was not his place to voice on opinion.
Kawaguchi, a veteran lawmaker in his tenth term, told the Ryukyu Shimpo that the issue is not merely confined to Okinawa, but is rather a major issue relevant to all of Japan. He stated he believes the problem must be viewed from the perspective of protecting local autonomy in Okinawa, Nara, and everywhere else in Japan.
At an Oita Prefectural Assembly meeting on December 7, assemblyman Hideo Suemune of the Liberal Democratic Party suggested that Osprey training be relocated to Keno Airfield in Bungo Onoshi City, Oita. He questioned the appropriateness of pushing all the burden of U.S. military operations on Okinawa, stating that talk about “burden reduction” must be translated into action. He suggested that given the current state of operations at Keno, turning it into an Osprey training base would be a highly effective use of the airfield.
Yoshiharu Suwa, head of the Oita Prefectural Department of Community and Environmental Affairs, explained that Keno Airfield serves as the hub for Oita’s disaster prevention air unit, and that it is also used by private sector aircraft. He emphasized that Oita is working hard to take on as much burden as possible, mentioning that in 1998, Oita acquiesced to becoming a site for U.S. military live-fire training.
Assemblyman Suemune is also head of the Policy Research Committee of the Oita prefectural chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party. He told the Ryukyu Shimpo that he raised the issue at the assembly meeting based on his own opinions, not based on the views of the Oita prefectural chapter of the LDP or his legislative faction. He stated that he believes it is wrong to make Okinawa bear full responsibility for Japan’s national security, and that he wanted to suggest that Oita take the initiative in helping to reduce the burden on Okinawa.
On the evening of December 15, a symposium featuring members of the U.S. peace organization Veterans for Peace (VFP) was held at the Okinawa Co-educational Participation Center “Tiruru” in Naha. At the symposium, former U.S. military service members and Okinawans shared stories about their participation in anti-war and peace movements. The VFP members, after visiting and learning about the U.S. bases in Okinawa, including the planned relocation site for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Henoko, Nago, expressed their desire to spread the message of opposition to the Henoko base construction to U.S. city councils nationwide, and to members of the U.S. Congress. The city council in Berkeley, California recently passed a resolution opposing the Henoko base construction, and the VFP members talked about collaborating with Hawaiians of Okinawan descent to get the Honolulu city council to pass a similar resolution.
The symposium, which had more than 200 attendees, was organized by the VFP Okinawa Visit Action Committee. Veterans for Peace has more than 120 branches throughout the United States, and around 4,000 members. They announced that on December 21, they will establish a Ryuku/Okinawa branch.
Member Ann Wright, who was in the U.S. army for 29 years and worked as a diplomat for 16 years, left her job as a diplomat in 2003 due to her opposition to the Iraq war.
Wright was one of more than 100 overseas scholars and intellectuals who recently published a statement opposing the Henoko base construction. Wright, who lives in Honolulu, expressed her intention to work to oppose the Henoko base construction in Honolulu and the United States.
Former U.S. airman Bruce Gagnon described how during the Vietnam War, seeing the anti-war demonstrations around the U.S. bases, he was gradually drawn to the peace movement. Gagnon said that when people protest against war outside the base fences, their message will undoubtedly get through [to the soldiers inside the base].
Other speakers at the symposium included former U.S. airman Dud Hendrick; Suzuyo Takazato, who has participated in delegations to the U.S. to petition against the bases; and former schoolteacher Eiko Ginoza. When the VFP members chanted, “No More Base,” attendees to the symposium joined them.
A stork was observed in Nakijin village on December 14. The bird is known as a special national treasure. According to a 53-year-old manager of the Yagaji national game reserve, Yutaka Toguchi, it is not common to see the species on Okinawa Island although the species was once recorded to have visited Ie Island in 2004.
The stork was about one-meter tall, and it was observed taking a rest while pecking around for food in a grass field around a residential area.
It is thought the bird flew from its usual habitat in northeastern China in order to pass the winter. As the bird did not have a leg ring attached, Toguchi thinks it was not from Hyogo Prefecture where storks are artificially bred and released.
In general, storks are known as solitary animals. Toguchi further commented, “Okinawa is not a general wintering spot, so perhaps the bird got lost on its way to southern China and arrived here. The species is occasionally witnessed in Okinawa but it’s rare to have their visits recorded.”
The bird might have sensed people approaching as it was not seen at the same spot on December 15.
On December 11, a presentation ceremony of the 15th Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Journalism Award was held in Tokyo. The Ryukyu Shimpo’s running story on the right of self-determination for Okinawa won the award in the Public Service division. Ryukyu Shimpo editorial board member Tsuyoshi Arakaki, who is in charge of the story, received the award certificate and commemorative medal from the chancellor of Waseda University, Kaoru Kamata.
At the ceremony, Kamata said, “I am glad the Ryukyu Shimpo’s winning of the award displayed what real journalism should be like in the Net age where everyone can send information.”
Reporter Satoshi Kamata, who was on the selection committee for the awards, said, “Okinawa has historically suffered from discrimination. However, the Ryukyu Shimpo’s award-winning story went back to the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom and discussed the right of self-determination, avoiding a victim mentality.”
Arakaki of the Ryukyu Shimpo said, “Since the ‘Ryukyu disposal in the Meiji era,’ Okinawa has been used as a ‘sacrificial stone’ by the Empire of Japan and went through the U.S. military administration after the war. I want the Japanese government not to treat Okinawa as their tool anymore.” Arakaki went on to say, “Putting an end to colonialism against Okinawa, all citizens of Japan can raise their voices on the right of self-determination, which could contribute to creating a better Japanese society. I would like to hold onto the spirit of ‘Newspaper Habu (Okinawan venomous snake),’ which has been the legacy of the Ryukyu Shimpo, and do my best.”
December 14, 2015 Sadao Tome, Ryukyu Shimpo Correspondent
On November 28 at the Armstrong Theater in Torrance City, the USA, the Ryukyu Koto Koyo Kai Los Angeles Branch held its 50th anniversary ceremony performance. Approximately 400 people attended and enjoyed the performance with its theme of “The Journey of Sound.”
Choichi Terukina, a Japanese Living National Treasure and advisor of Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Gensei Kai, Hiroko Asato, advisor of Koyo Kai, Grand Master Kazuko Yamada, and 14 leading members traveled from Okinawa and gave performances. With the members of the LA Branch, they performed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LA Branch in appreciation for the members’ efforts to master koto.
The Koyo Kai LA Branch was established in 1964 as the Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai. In 2004, they changed the name to the current one. Under the guidance of the branch’s Chief Teruya, the branch expanded to provide classes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Mexico, and Texas. Approximately 20 musicians have achieved shihan (master) and kyoshi (teacher) certification.
The anniversary program provided an ensemble of sanshin and koto along with performances of Yuratiku Bushi, and Gajadefu Bushi with dances. Thirteen koto musicians performed Watari Zou and Aha Bushi in unison. After that, came Odori Kwadisa, Nakazato Bushi, Hatoma Bushi, and Amakawa Bushi. The most impressive performance was Nakafu Bushi, courtesy of Terukina’s sanshin and Teruya’s koto. The rare collaboration of the two masters attracted the audience’s attention.
After an intermission, Ryukyu Sokyoku Grand Master Yamada awarded Tamiko Akamine and Tomio Prehoda with Shinjin sho, the Newcomers’ Award of the Ryukyu Classical Performing Arts Competition, and Emiko Takushi with Yushu sho, Award of Excellence. Terukina awarded Tomio Prehoda with Shinjin sho for sanshin.
The program included a fashion show of costumes from the Ryukyu Kingdom era that also caught the attention of the audience.
A movie titled The Omoiyari challenges the question of the periodic payment by Japan to the US military for bearing the cost of stationing US Forces there, popularly referred to as the omoiyari yosan, or “sympathy budget” in English. This film was recently completed. The American director, Leland Buckley, lives under an air route used by aircraft coming and going from Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture. Buckley brought to attention how backwards the omoiyari yosan is, saying that amid costs of the Great East Japan earthquake and Japan’s economic difficulties, expenses of the US Forces, even their leisure activities, are coming from taxation in Japan. Buckley wonders why Japan must be so sympathetic to the US military.
The movie explained the situation of the omoiyari yosan, that it does not only cover US Forces, Japan (USFJ) members’ residences and schools, but also golf courses, fast food restaurants, and other facilities for leisure. Buckley requests that people from all over the world, whoever they are and wherever they are from, express their thoughts about the current circumstances in Japan.
In the film, an Ishinomaki natural disaster victim living in temporary housing in Okinawa was shown footage of USFJ residential housing. Upon seeing housing equipped with several quality kitchens and bathrooms, this survivor said with a sigh, “We are living in places with little space and walls thin enough to hear the neighbors sneeze.”
The film introduces Yoko Yamaguchi’s efforts to have some of the omoiyari yosan used to support disaster victims, and an explanation of the enormous budget for construction of a new base at Henoko.
In the 16 years that Buckley has lived near Atsugi base, he has personally experienced the roar of aircraft become so startling as to make one jump out of bed in the middle of the night. Shocked by the indiscriminate killing of civilians by the US military in Iraq, he wonders why Japan continued to pay for the presence of US bases.
Buckley said that the US bases are profitable for both Japanese and American politicians and businesses, so it is clear those benefiting will not let the bases go. He mentioned that with this film he wants to ask the people of Japan if the current situation is really agreeable.
There has been a screening of the film in areas around Tokyo already, but starting in January next year there are plans for the film to be screened sequentially in more places.
On December 12, a photographers’ gallery talk on the Koza riot was held at Gallery Lafayette in the Chuo district of Okinawa City. With about 50 participants, Ko Yoshioka, Kazuo Kuniyoshi, and Toyomitsu Higa, who exhibited photographs they had taken, discussed the situation surrounding the Koza riot and the significance of their pieces.
Yoshioka said, “Given the situation, in which democracy and the local autonomy of Okinawa are currently being threatened, I think that the people of Okinawa need to think of how to define the incident from today’s perspective. The Koza riot has reminded me of the importance of expressing one’s opinions.” Twenty-four-year-old Kin Town resident Riho Afuso said, “Considering the situation surrounding the Henoko relocation issue, I fear that incidents like the Koza riot could happen at some stage.”
A group of researchers from the Okinawa Churashima Foundation in Motobu Town achieved the world’s first discovery of a ray species’ protective function for its eyes. The research group announced the result by December 8. The species studied buries its body under the sea bed and, according to the group, uses a particular eye muscle to bury its eyes deeper than other species do in order to protect them.
A representative researcher, Taketeru Tomita, shared the group’s research results as “It’s not common for the species to have eyelids, if you look at the whole species. From the result, we can see how there are various ways to protect eyes.”
Many ray species live on the surface of the sea bed, and usually they leave their eyes uncovered by the sand while they bury their bodies. The researched ray does not have eyelids to close, and so buries its eyes in a pocket located around the center of its head.
The research was conducted using giant guitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis) as a sample. After measuring the species’ eye motion using ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, the result showed that the ray is able to bury the whole of its eyes into the pocket and the movement distance of the eyes is the largest among vertebrate animals. The research group further used dead specimens to add electronic stimuli to one of the eye muscles, the inferior oblique muscle, which enables the species to bury its eyes.
The results will be published in the international scholarly journal “Zoology”.
The final competition of the Japan Cup Karatedo was held on December 13 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. In the Men’s Individual Kata Division, Ryo Kiyuna (Ryuei-ryu and Kobudo-ryuhokai) won the championship title for the fourth consecutive time. Arata Kinjo (Ryuei-ryu and Kobudo-ryuhokai) came in fifth place. In the open weight Men’s Individual Kumite Division, Shintaro Kuniyoshi ranked in fifth place. In the Women’s Individual Kumite, twenty-three year old Ayumi Uekusa (Kouei Keibi Hosho Co., Ltd.) won her first ever crown in the national championships. Uekusa defeated her opponent, Kayo Someya (Theatre Academy Co., Ltd.), 10-7. Uekusa came in second place last year, while Someya was after her third straight win this year. In the Men’s Individual Kumite Division, Ryutaro Araga (Araga Dojo) won for the fourth time in a row, within these two consecutive years. Meanwhile, in the Women’s Individual Kumite Division, Kiyou Shimizu (Kansai University) made her third straight victory. According to the Japan Karatedo Federation, the finals drew a record-setting crowd of 13,000 spectators. The excitement over karate’s climb on the shortlist for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics seemed to ripple throughout the stadium.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
