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June 5, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
Donations to the Henoko Fund, which is aimed at supporting activities to prevent the relocation of U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma to Henoko in northern Okinawa Prefecture, have exceeded 300 million yen, the secretariat of the fund said on May 4.
As of May 3, the fund has received 315,367,686 yen from 28,114 donors, exceeding the 300 million mark within only two months of its founding, according to the secretariat.
The fund’s Steering Committee will hold its third meeting at the headquarters of Kanehide Group in Asahi-machi in Naha on June 8.
The fund currently supports two groups, a Nago-based group opposing construction of the new base and an Okinawa-wide group campaigning for the same cause. The committee is expected to discuss additional ways to use the money.
Proposals made so far include supporting municipal-level organizations opposing the base construction and sponsoring opinion ads to be published in newspapers and other media outlets in mainland Japan or abroad.
(English translation by T&CT and Scott Murphy)
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June 3, 2015 Sakae Toiyama of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
On June 2, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga met with members of the U.S. Senate and House of representatives to ask for a review of the plan to build a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago, to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan.
The governor first met with the U.S. Senator John McCain (Republican), the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, and Jack Reed (Democratic), chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services.
McCain is a former presidential candidate and an influential political leader, particularly regarding U.S. defense policy. McCain and Onaga met for one hour, during which they were split over the Henoko plan. However, they agreed to continue dialogue on the issue.
The Governor showed the senator reports in the local newspapers, including the Ryukyu Shimpo, of a protest rally, aimed at blocking the new U.S. base in Henoko, attended by 35,000 people, which was held in May. “I am encouraged by the people’s support. The will of the people has been clearly illustrated on this issue,” Onaga said. He stressed how strong his stance was against the Henoko plan.
McCain said that he was aware of the feelings of Okinawan people, and he agreed to continue dialogue in the future.
After the meeting, the senator released a statement, saying: “Today I had a friendly and respectful meeting with Governor Onaga. I expressed my appreciation for the people of Okinawa and my continued willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the governor. At the same time, I expressed my ongoing support for the current plan to relocate U.S. Marines on Okinawa, to which the United States and the Government of Japan remain committed. ”
(English translation by T&CT)
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June 4, 2015 Sakae Toiyama of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga met with the State Department Office of Japanese Affairs Director Joe Young and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Cara Abercrombie on June 3 at the U.S. State Department. The Governor urged the U.S. government to abandon the plan to build a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago, and move the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Ginowan outside of Okinawa. This is the first time he has directly asked U.S. government officials to cancel the Henoko relocation plan since he took the governor’s office.
The Governor showed officials reports in the local newspapers, including the Ryukyu Shimpo, of a protest rally, aimed at blocking the new U.S. base in Henoko, attended by 35,000 people. He said, “Okinawan people have asserted that they will not allow a new U.S. base to be built. They have supported the Japan- U.S. security alliance. However, now they cannot accept the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko.”
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Abercrombie stressed that the relocation plan is the only solution. Director Young promised to convey the governor’s message to his superior and to report the response to the governor.
(English translation by T&CT)
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May 26, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On May 25, the 46th Nanyo Gunto Okinawa Memorial Ceremony was held at the Tower of Okinawa in Saipan. The ceremony was held to console the souls of the war dead, who died during the battle near the end of the Asia-Pacific War in 1944. About 140 people, including returnees from the island, their families and affiliates, took part. Participants mourned the death of about 12,000 Okinawan people involved in the ground battle in the former South Sea Islands and renewed their pledge not to fight in wars ever again.
An official from the Okinawa Prefectural Government participated in the ceremony for the first time in 10 years. Vice Governor Isho Urasaki read a message on behalf of Governor Takeshi Onaga, “This year marks 70 years after the end of World War II. We commit to creating a peaceful Okinawa and honoring these people who were killed during the war, and we receive their sacrifice with sincerity. We also honor the survivors who lost everything but held on to hope and made so much effort to reconstruct Okinawa.”
Zenichi Taira, the president of the South Sea Islands Returnees Association, said, “Bereaved families are getting older but we are living proof of the war, and we want to preserve the painful memory of war.”
(English translation by T&CT, Hitomi Shinzato)
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June 2, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Ryukyu Shimpo and the Okinawa Television Broadcasting (OTV) carried out a telephone poll on the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma relocation issue on May 30 and 31.
According to the poll, 77.2 percent of respondents support Governor Takeshi Onaga’s plan to cancel the former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima’s approval of landfill in Henoko, Nago, if an expert committee recommends it. The poll showed that 83 percent of respondents oppose relocation of the Futenma base within the prefecture.
The percentage of respondents opposed to the relocation plan is the second highest ever recorded in this survey, behind a May 2012 recording of 88.7 percent. It is the highest since the Abe administration took office in December 2012.
the result of the poll on the Henoko relocation.
The poll shows that criticism of the central government, which is continuing preparation work for the landfill in spite of opposition, remains strong among Okinawa people. This year’s poll falls on the 70 th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima previously approved the landfill plan off the coast of Henoko, Nago, reneging on an election pledge not to allow it. Governor Onaga intends to revoke the former Governor’s decision.
The poll shows 77.2 percent of respondents support Governor Onaga’s policy, including 52.4 percent who responded “greatly support” and 24.8 percent who responded “somewhat support.”
Even after the inauguration of the Onaga administration, which is is opposed to the Henoko relocation, the central government is pushing on with early construction work on a new U.S. base off the coast of Henoko. Part of this work includes a boring survey. 71.6 percent of those surveyed responded “the work should be stopped,” while 21 percent responded “the work should be continued.”
On the question of how to solve the Futenma base issue, 31.4 percent, the largest majority, responded “Futenma should be relocated outside of the country.” This was followed by 29.8 percent, who responded “Futenma should be closed and removed unconditionally,” and 21. 8 percent responded “Futenma should be relocated to other prefectures.”
Eighty-three percent of respondents are opposed to the relocation of the Futenma base within the prefecture.
While 10.8 percent responded “Futenma should be relocated to Henoko, Nago”, and 3.4 percent responded “Futenma should be relocated to anywhere in the prefecture other than Henoko.”
(English translation by T&CT)
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May 28, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On May 28 at Tenbusu Hall in Naha City, a presentation was held to celebrate the impending opening of “Kokusai dori yatai mura” stores, which open on June 19. The event took place at the shop site, the former theatre Grand Orion in Makishi, Naha City. Twenty-two stores including 20 unique eating and drinking vendors, offering locally produced foods, held stores to advertise the opening.Store sizes were approximately 12-meters squared, with eight seats. Although the price range will vary depending on the store, managers expect meals to be around 1000 to 1500 yen per customer.
In addition to food and drink vendors, an information center for neighbor island foods and culture “Ritou Marche,” and an Okinawa Tourism outlet will be in the same area. Ritou Marche will sell approximately 2000 souvenir items from neighbor islands.
Photograph: On May 28 at Makishi, Naha City, store presenters showed excitement about the opening of “Kokusai dori yatai mura” on June 19.
(English translation by Megumi Chibana and T&CT)
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May 28, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The Chinese are the top spenders among foreign tourists visiting Okinawa Prefecture, with each person dishing out an average of 155,191 yen, up 1.7% from the previous year, according to a survey released on May 27 by the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG).
Releasing the preliminary data on tourists traveling by air to Okinawa for fiscal 2014, the OPG culture, tourism and sports division said foreign tourists on average spent 106,051 yen per person, up 9.8% from the previous year. The figure exceeds the 100,000-yen threshold. This particular survey has been conducted since fiscal 2012.
The survey has again demonstrated foreign tourists’ major contribution to the local economy. They are rapidly growing in number and spend about 30,000 yen more than tourists from the rest of Japan.
For the survey, OPG researchers met with foreign tourists at the international boarding areas of Naha Airport and New Ishigaki Airport. They collected data through questionnaires and interviews, obtaining 1,768 responses during a total of six survey sessions — four in Naha and two in Ishigaki.
Among the respondents, 86.7% were first-time visitors to Okinawa. Foreign tourists on average stayed 3.72 nights, down 0.23 from the previous fiscal year. Responding to multiple answers, the tourists said their activities in Okinawa included; “urban sightseeing and city walk” (85.6%), “seeing nature and scenic spots” (84.6%), and “shopping” (82.0%). Shopping saw a 10.4 percent increase from the previous year.
Among items purchased in Okinawa, “sweets” topped the list at 76.2%, followed by “medicinal products” (51.7%), “food (other than sweets) and beverage” at 51.1%, and “cosmetics and perfume” at 42.9%.
The amount of money spent by foreign travelers to Okinawa has been rising — 83,336 yen per person in fiscal 2012 and 96,548 yen in fiscal 2013, an increase of 15.9%.
A look into the 106,051 yen expense from the fiscal 2014 data shows that average foreign travelers spent 38,613 yen on “souvenirs and shopping,” 26,694 yen on “accommodation,” 22,186 yen on “dining and drinking,” 11,614 yen on “transportation within the prefecture,” 6,275 yen on “entertainment admission fees,” and 668 yen on the rest.
Of the average 155,191 yen spent by Chinese visitors, “souvenirs and shopping” accounted for 80,607 yen, indicating that Chinese tourists spend a remarkably high proportion of their travel budget on souvenirs.
The OPG surveyed foreign tourists in 2005 but it had not done so during the 2006-2009 fiscal years.
(English translation by T&CT and Miwa Murphy)
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May 27, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On May 26, the 38th Tinian Memorial Ceremony for War Victims of Okinawan Descent was held at the “Okinawa Tower” located on the Carolinas Plateau in Tinian, in the Northern Mariana Islands. Around 80 people attended the memorial ceremony, their families, and local people. Attendees prayed for the souls of those killed in the land battle that occurred in Tinian 71 years ago, and they pledged to pass on the memories of the war.
Atsushi Asato, 70, who lost his older brother, older sister, and uncle in the war, spoke as a representative for families of the deceased. In his memorial speech, he stated; “the young people who died must have wanted to keep on living. Dying must have been very painful for them. We must understand that feeling. We Okinawans also experienced hardship, but the indigenous people of Tinian experienced occupation since the 17th century, first by Spain, then Germany, Japan, and the United States, and they ended up getting caught up in the war. In addition to the souls of Okinawans, I want to mourn the souls of people from every country.”
Yoshikame Isa, vice president of the Okinawa Tinian Association, stated, “We have set up information plaques and signs in areas with connections to Okinawa, but we want to keep working even harder to ensure that these memories continue to be preserved [by following generations].”
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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May 29, 2015 this story compiled from articles by Ryota Shimabukuro of Ryukyu Shimpo
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga met with Senator Mazie Hirono and Representative Tulsi Gabbard on May 27 in Honolulu. The two are Democrats elected in Hawaii. Both serve in the Congress’s Armed Services Committees. The governor said,”I will absolutely not allow a new U.S. base to be built in Henoko, Nago.” He sought the support of the senator and representative in his efforts to have the Henoko relocation plan reviewed.
Senator Hirono said though there are military bases in Hawaii, the government does not build them by force. The senator said that the Japanese government should listen to the opinions of Okinawan people.
Representative Gabbard said the governments of the United States and Japan should find a compromise solution, if construction of the new base cannot go ahead. The Representative urged the governor to bring an alternative proposal next time.
Representative Tulsi Gabbard (left) and Governor Onaga, at the meeting held on May 27 in Honolulu.
Hirono showed understanding towards the governor’s stance; however, she said Okinawa should appeal more to the Japanese government.
Gabbard said she could understand Okinawa’s feelings, and that what she gained a lot from listening to the governor.
On May 28, Onaga also met with U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (Democratic) who serves in the Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The senator stressed that Okinawan people’s concerns were an important matter. He said he doubted whether it is possible to overturn an agreement between the governments of the U.S and Japan. However, he said that he would do everything he could to help.
US. Senator Brian Schatz (left) and Governor Onaga shake hands in Honolulu.
(English translation by T&CT)
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May 21, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
On May 20, Okinawa Meteorological Observatory declared the start of rainy season in Okinawa, 11 days later than in an average year, and 15 days later than last year.
In the Amami Islands near Okinawa, the wet weather began on May 19, the earliest rainy season in the country.
Due to the seasonal rain front, the atmosphere in mainland Okinawa and the Sakishima Islands has become unstable.
The Observatory expects the rain front and moist air currents to bring many cloudy and rainy days to the Okinawa region. The rainy season usually ends around June 23.
On May 20, at a garden park at Izumi, Motobu Village, visitors enjoyed blue and light purple flowers under umbrellas in the drizzling rain.
According to the park, the flowers bloomed one week to ten days earlier than usual. Visitors can enjoy them until June 20. The ninety-eight-year-old owner of the park Uto Yohena said, “This year’s flowers are big and colorful. I hope that many people will come along to see them.”
(English translation by T&TC, Hitomi Shinzato)
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May 22, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo
The University of the Ryukyus has created a database of botanical information collected in Okinawa. Hoping to strengthen cooperation between industry and academia, the University hopes the botanical resources can be used to help develop food and medical products. To promote collaborative research, the University also plans to work with the Kyoto Senior Venture Club Union in Kyoto Prefecture, which has a number of active entrepreneurial ventures. Using the networks and experience of the union, the University aims to connect with companies throughout Japan.
667 kinds of plants in Okinawa have been registered on the database, which will be made available online in June. Users will be able obtain various botanical information such as a plants’ characteristics and medicinal benefits. The database makes the botanical information more accessible for businesses.
The collaboration with the Kyoto Senior Venture Club Union is expected not only to promote collaborative research between universities and companies but also to expand markets throughout the country for any products which may be developed.
The University of the Ryukyus General Planning and Strategy Division Director Zenshu Ohama said, “This is one of the projects where the University would like people to recognize its contribution to the economic development of the community.”
(English translation by T&CT and Megumi Chibana)
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