On October 26, twenty-four artists and intellectuals from around Japan, including Osaka City University professor emeritus Kenichi Miyamoto and Kenzaburo Oe, released a statement lauding Governor Takeshi Onaga’s decision to revoke authorization to reclaim land off Henoko, Nago. The statement announces, “We support the revocation of authorization to reclaim land to build a U.S. military base in Henoko.”
The group that released the statement is called “Council for consideration of the Futenma/Henoko issue,” and is represented by Kenichi Miyamoto. Author Kenzaburo Oe also added his name to the statement. Ten signatories, including Dokkyo University professor emeritus Shoichi Koseki, Tokyo University professor Yōichi Komori, and Rikkyo University professor Osamu Nishitani, attended a press conference regarding the statement at the Lower House Diet Member’s Office Building.
Representative Miyamoto announced his full support for Governor Onaga’s decision, stating, “The people of Okinawa have continuously expressed their overwhelming opposition to the construction of the new Henoko base. Forcefully pushing forward with the base construction based solely on the former governor’s authorization of the land reclamation permit is equivalent to Japan relinquishing its credentials as a democratic nation and announcing to the world that justice is not administered here.”
As part of Kajimaya, an event held to honour 97 year-olds or “golden-agers”, autocades paraded through Yafuso on October 17 and Iso on October 18 in Urasoe City. Onlookers from the communities prayed for their own longevity.
Akira Chinen and Shotaro Tamaki celebrated Kajimaya in Yafuso. According to Community Leader Katsuo Yafuso of Yafuso, the community has never held a Kajimaya autocade.
Chinen and Tamaki paraded down Yafuso Street in a convertible. Approximately 200 people including the brass band club of Nakanishi Elementary School, Women’s Club, Children’s Club, and Ryukyu Corazon members joined in the parade.
On October 18 at Iso Community Hall, Urasoe City, Susumu Mekaru celebrated Kajimaya.
Chinen said, “I feel great,” and Tamaki said, “I feel happy.” Many people asked them for handshakes and photographs.
Meanwhile, in the Iso Community celebrated Kajimaya for the first time in 20 years. Susumu Mekaru took part. An autocade started at his home and travelled to Iso Community Hall. Approximately 250 people gathered in the hall. Stick fighting and Eisa were performed, and Iju tempura was offered.
Mekaru is a person of merit who served as a community leader of Iso in 1958 as well as a master of fast-playing Sanshin. He said that the secret of longevity was “To play sanshin and make songs.”
Mekaru’s first son, Moritaka, was designated as a holder of important intangible cultural property Kumiodori in July. He said, “I started playing Sanshin because of my father’s influence. With Kajimaya, it is a double happiness.”
Sugar cane producers and agriculture-related institutions gathered at the Okinawa Times Building in Naha City on October 22 to learn about the Trans Pacific Partnership, which leaders are set to sign off on.
The Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation hosted the meeting. The speakers included a member from the Sweetening Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) who reported the result of the TPP negotiation process. More than 200 people from the related groups including production society and government organizations participated. Producers expressed their concerns, commenting “We can’t be certain how the TPP will impact us until the partnership actually gets implemented.”
The staff from the MAFF stressed that the agreement maintains the Sugar Price Adjustment System, in which monetary compensation amounts are collected from imported goods to fund subsidies for domestic farmers. Saying, “we would like producers and sugar factory owners to continue production while ensuring safety,” the staff further explained, “although there is little direct impact, there is a possibility the agreement will eventually have impact. We want to consider strategies.”
Producers raised questions stating, “We are concerned that subsidies will be removed or reduced if tariffs, which are funding sources, are removed,” and “are there any possibilities to reconsider the partnership?”
On October 29, the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Bureau began construction for the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago. On the same day, Governor Takeshi Onaga held a news conference at the prefectural office building, where he expressed his outrage at the government’s decision to forcefully begin construction before a final legal decision has been made regarding his revocation of the land reclamation permit. He also harshly criticized the government’s deployment of riot police in front of Camp Schwab, which he stated shows their heavy-handed attitude toward the Okinawans protesting the base construction. “The government keeps saying they’re dedicated to considering the feelings of the Okinawan people, but based on their actions, they clearly have no such intention,” Governor Onaga stated.
Regarding a document sent by the central government to Okinawa demanding a policy change as part of the government’s planned procedure to re-authorize the land reclamation by proxy, Governor Onaga stated, “By first rendering my revocation of the permit invalid through a request for administrative review, and then having the presiding governmental minister demand that I revoke my revocation, the government is clearly trying to act in a variety of contradictory capacities to suit its own convenience. Can they really face the world claiming that Japan is a country of laws?”
Regarding the government’s decision to cancel plans to move training by MV-22 Osprey aircraft stationed at U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma to Saga Airport, Governor Onaga stated, “During the lead-up to the national election last year, the relocation of Osprey training to Saga Airport was broadcast widely in the news. But now that they are at odds with Okinawa, they announce [they are cancelling the plan]. It’s nothing but ‘hanashikwachii’ (means smooth talk in the Okinawan dialect) to get past a difficult situation.”
At a Cabinet meeting held on October 27, the national government decided to demand Okinawa Prefectural Government retract its revocation of landfill in Henoko, Nago, where the governments of Japan and the United States plan to relocate U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma. The national government will also try to use a subrogation clause in the Local Government Act, alleging Governor Takeshi Onaga’s revocation of landfill is an illegal administrative disposition.
It will be the first time the national government has used the subrogation procedure for works handled by local governments under the local autonomy law.
The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Ishii stated, at a news conference held after the cabinet meeting,”Okinawa Governor Onaga’s revocation of his predecessor’s approval of Henoko landfill will harm the public interest significantly. This is illegal.” He added that he would send a document on October 28 recommending that the governor should retract the revocation.
On October 27, the ministry of land also decided to stop the effect of the governor’s revocation of landfill, approving an appeal submitted by the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau.
The national government can appeal to the high court, if a local government does not accept the recommendation by the central government on the subrogation procedure in article 245 of the Local Autonomy Act.
The prefectural government has said it will not follow the national government’s recommendations and instructions.
The dispute over the new U.S. base’s construction in Henoko between Tokyo and Okinawa is set to develop into a court battle.
Land minister Ishii judged that the governor’s revocation was an illegal disposition in the context of the Public Waters Reclamation Law. He added, “The former governor’s approval of the landfill was determined lawfully. It is illegal to revoke it.”
The ministry of land approved an appeal from the ministry of defense to suspend the governor’s revocation of the landfill, stating that it will become impossible to continue the relocation project for the Futenma Air Station, which will continue to cause serious risk to local residents if the relocation does not go ahead.
On October 27, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated in Kazakhstan, “Governor Onaga’s revocation of approval of the landfill is illegal, and it will significantly harm the public interest because the purpose of the relocation is to remove risks.”
On October 14, the defense bureau appealed to the ministry of land to apply for review of the governor’s decision, and submitted a petition to suspend the revocation of the landfill based on the Administrative Appeal Act.
Countering the defense bureau’s allegations, the prefectural government also submitted a written opinion and letter of explanation to the ministry of land on October 21.
On October 29, the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Bureau officers entered U.S. Marine Camp Schwab with construction vehicles for land reclamation and building the new base in Henoko, Nago. Eighty-six-year-old Fumiko Shimabukuro, continuing protest activities against the relocation facility with other Henoko residents, ran to the gate of Camp Schwab and threw herself into the front row of the protest. Despite police officers seizing and forcibly removing her from the front of the gate, she repeatedly rejoined to prevent entrance of the next vehicles. Furthermore, even when there were short breaks in attempts to remove protesters, residents did not move from in front of the gate and continued to express their indignation.
Shimabukuro participated in the sit-in protest starting early in the morning, wearing a pink tee shirt with “the way not to lose is to not give up until you win” written upon it. She linked arms with other city residents and scowled at the police officers forcibly removing them.
When Shimabukuro had a break to speak with her fellow protesters, looking back on the events of the day, she said that on this day, too, she got angry with many people. Some women who participated in the protest wanted to gain a sense of other protesters’ sentiments through their conduct, and said they were able to pick up on Shimabukuro’s pent-up rage toward the government of Japan, which forces operations through while ignoring the complaints of local Okinawans.
At 8 a.m. on October 29, the defense ministry’s Okinawa bureau started reclamation work that is a step towards building a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago. The governments of Japan and the United States plan to relocate U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma in Ginowan to Henoko.
Land Minister Keiichi Ishii decided on October 29 to suspend Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga’s revocation of landfill. Following the minister’s decision, the defense bureau started the construction work.
The bureau also has resumed a seabed boring survey, which was suspended by the governor’s revocation.
Nineteen years have passed since the governments of Japan and the United States agreed to return the Futenma Air Station to locals. Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine and Governor Takeshi Onaga have opposed the central government’s relocation plan because it will not only prevent Okinawa from resolving its longstanding base problem but it also means that Okinawa will continue to host U.S. bases into the future. It could trigger strong opposition from the prefectural government and Nago City that the central government has started the work forcibly.
It is speculated that the government’s actions could galvanise the people’s movement . The standoff over the relocation has moved into a critical phase.
On October 25, in commemoration of Karate Day, which highlights that Okinawa is the birthplace of Karate, events were held at a square in front of Tenbus-kan Hall and in Kokusai Street.
The Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai, Okinawa Prefectural Government and Prefectural Assembly hosted the festival.
At the square in front of the Tenbus-kan Hall, Karate men and women from each school, including Kobudo, demonstrated their skills and technique. In Kokusai Street, Over 2,000 karate lovers of all generations, including seniors and preschool children, demonstrated a basic routine “Fukyugata I”.
The Japanese Olympic Committee recently announced it would include Karate as a sports event in the Tokyo Olympics in the year 2020.
Each organization performed their routines or “kata”, and showed off tools such as nunchaku and tonfa in four areas of Kokusai Street. Karate fans and tourists were drawn to the performances.
Choko Kyuna, the chairman of the Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai, said, “We would like to register Okinawa Karate on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. We want to let the people of the world know that Okinawa is the birth-place of Karate, by hosting the events of Karate Day.”
The name of Okinawan martial arts was unified as “Karate” (empty hand) at a roundtable discussion of Karate masters hosted by the Ryukyu Shimpo on October 25, 1936.
The Prefectural Assembly resolved in 2005 that October 25 is Karate Day.
Shigeo Kurihara, vice president of the Japan Karate Federation, said, “Okinawan people love Karate deeply. Karate will gain more popularity if it is included as a sports event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Six-year-old Kanta Kakinohana, who has learned Karate at a dojo for three months and showed off her kata technique at the event, said, “I will work hard to become a black belt.”
Eight-year-old Rion Nohara, who came to see her cousin in a demonstration, said, “It was sharp and looked good.”
Five F-16 fighters belonging to the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron located at Tulsa Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma landed at Kadena U.S. Air Base on October 22. According to the U.S. Air Force, 12 F-16 fighters will be deployed temporarily to Kadena from the Tulsa Air National Guard Base.
The U.S. Air Force has not revealed how long they will stay in Okinawa.
This is the third time that fighter squadrons belonging to Air National Guard Bases in the United States have been deployed temporarily to the Kadena Base this year, following deployments of a fighter squadron belonging to Air National Guard Base in Wisconsin in January and a fighter squadron belonging to Air National Guard Base in Vermont in June.
As of October 22, 11 aircraft from U.S. bases outside of Okinawa are stationed at the Kadena Air Base, and operating from the base.
Officials of municipalities near the Kadena Base oppose to the fighter squadrons’ deployment from Air National Guard bases in the United States to Okinawa. They have criticized the governments of Japan and the United States for contradicting the joint government policy of reducing the burden of the bases.
They spoke out against temporary deployment of the U.S. military aircraft to Kadena and called for early withdrawal of the aircraft from the base.
On October 14 and 15, six AV-8B Harriers belonging to U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, landed at the Kadena base,
On the night of October 20, “Stop! Henoko New Base Construction! Osaka Action,” a group made up of 18 citizens’ organizations working on the Okinawa base issue in Japan’s Kansai region, held a candlelight vigil in front of JR Osaka Station to show their support for Governor Takeshi Onaga and his decision to revoke authorization to reclaim land around Henoko. According to the organizers, around 70 participants attended the vigil and encouraged passersby to think about the base issues not just on Okinawa but on mainland Japan as well.
The group was formed on August 8, 2014, and since then has expanded and organized rallies and other events to oppose the Henoko base construction. It was the second time this year the group has held a candlelight vigil, and their first time since Governor Onaga announced his decision to revoke the land reclamation permit. Participant Keiko Murakami of Hyogo prefecture, age 65, said, “[The issues surrounding US bases] are not just Okinawa’s problem. I want to act in solidarity [with people in Okinawa].”
On October 20, Okinawa’s prefectural government publicized the number of tourists to visit the prefecture in the first half of the 2015 fiscal year (April – September). The number reached a record high of 4,093,000, exceeding the number of tourists during the same period last year by 9.7%. Foreign tourists, at 880,800, significantly increased by 63.9% on the previous year. The prefectural government estimates that by October, the number of foreign tourists will already exceed last year’s total of 980,000. It has determined the main causes for this upswing in tourism to Okinawa as owing to expanded foreign air routes, a greater number of dockings by large cruise vessels, and higher demand for travel both domestically and from abroad due to the Japanese yen remaining weak.
Partly as a result of typhoons, domestic tourism only increased by 0.6% this year to 3,212,200 visitors, remaining nearly average with last year’s. The prefectural government is aiming for 2015 tourism numbers to reach 7,600,000 (6,400,000 domestic and 1,200,000 foreign tourists).
The number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting in September reached a record high of 724,700, a 10% rise from September 2014. The number of tourists each month has exceeded that of the same month in the prior year for 36 consecutive months.
For September this year, domestic tourism increased 2.9% from the previous year to 575,100 people. Tourism from Tokyo rose 1.4% to 289,000 visitors, and tourism from Kansai rose 6.9% to 126,000 visitors.
The number of foreign tourists in September 2015 shot up to 149,600, 49.7% greater than in September 2014. Tourism from Taiwan grew 19.1% to 51,200 people; tourism from South Korea multiplied 2.1 times to 23,700 people; tourism from mainland China multiplied 2.7 times to 33,600 people; and tourism from Hong Kong increased 44.6% to 18,800 people.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
