The Henoko Fund aimed at supporting activities to prevent the relocation of U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma to Henoko, a coastal community in the city of Nago in northern Okinawa Prefecture, was formally launched in Naha on May 13. Over 185 million yen had already been received in donations.
Members of the prefectural assembly and local business leaders had been preparing for the launch by holding meetings to raise funds and to select the fund’s representatives. Now that the fund has been formally launched, its activities are set to start in earnest. At the inaugural general meeting, the organizers said that a total of ¥ 185,406,093 had been raised from 15,022 donors. The fund appropriated 350 million yen as its fiscal 2015 budget and designated that amount of money as its fundraising goal.
At the general assembly, the committee formally approved the appointment of nine joint representatives. It also designated members of a Fund Steering Committee to study uses of the fund. The steering committee held its first meeting after the general assembly, confirming agenda items such as the structure and role of the committee. It plans to hold its second meeting on May 21 to start discussions on specific uses of the fund.
The co-representatives were chosen from both in and outside Okinawa Prefecture. Those from outside are film director: Hayao Miyazaki; journalist Shuntaro Torigoe; former Japanese Foreign Ministry chief analyst Masaru Sato; Fumiko Sugawara, wife of the late actor Bunta Sugawara; and photojournalist Bunyo Ishikawa, who is originally from Okinawa but lives in the mainland. Those from Okinawa are former Kadena Mayor Tokujitsu Miyagi, Kanehide Group Chairman Morimasa Goya, Kariyushi Group CEO Chokei Taira, and Okinawa Ham Sogo Shokuhin Chairman Tokumatsu Nagahama.
“We’ve come this far with our sole desire being to stop the Henoko base. The effort is becoming an ‘all-Japan’ one, not just an ‘all-Okinawan one.’ Let’s stop the construction of the new base and give Japanese democracy a wake-up call,” said Goya.
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, who gave an address at the general assembly as a guest, said, “I will stand firm as governor at the forefront (of the opposition movement). I hope that we will be successful while showing our resolve.”
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga held a press conference at the Prefectural Government Office around 10 a.m. on May 15. Governor Onaga was asked what he thinks is in “the hearts of Okinawans.” The question harked back to comments made by former governor Junji Nishime who said, “In their hearts Okinawans want to be Yamatonchu (Japanese) yet that cannot be.” Onaga talked about the time when the 41 heads of the municipalities in Okinawa went to Tokyo and handed a petition to Abe requesting the easing of the base-hosting burden in 2013. He stated, “I sometimes felt that the main islands of Japan reject us even when we try to reach out to them.” The governor referred to the fact that a large part of the donation to the Henoko Fund comes from outside Okinawa, as well as to various public polls that show a lot of opposition to the Henoko relocation. He said, “Whether we are able to build a bond between Okinawa and the main islands of Japan is becoming increasingly important. I want to continue stressing what the former governors have said and what I now also feel.”
Onaga talked about the fact that this year marks the 43rd anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan. The governor said reversion was achieved as a result of the efforts of the Okinawan people under the slogan: “equality with the people of mainland Japan.” However, he added, “What Okinawans face today is not real democracy as we hoped for at the time of reversion.” Onaga went on to say, “I want to create and leave behind, ‘wealth with dignity’ for future generations.”
The governor also expressed unease at the cabinet’s approval of the new security related bill that aims to expand the activities of the Self Defense Force. Onaga stated, “I am concerned about how Okinawa might be targeted in the future because it is hosting military bases with important functions.”
May 14, 2015 Sadaharu Shimabukuro, Correspondent of Ryukyu Shimpo
At the Hawaii State Capitol on May 12, the University of the Ryukyus President Hajime Oshiro, Meio University President Katsunori Yamazato, and the University of Hawaii President David Lassner signed a partnership agreement. The tie-up will create opportunities to form an international network in education and research related to Okinawan Studies, encompassing language, tourism, and the natural sciences. Those present at the signing included Hawaii State Governor David Ige. The international network plans to co-create an Uchinaguchi dictionary in Spanish and Portuguese, which are the main languages in South America.
Hawaii and Okinawa have similarities as islands. The University of Hawaii is known for its active research on endangered languages, including the Ryukyuan languages, and the university also holds various resources for Okinawan Studies. The collaboration aims to create opportunities for joint research which would be difficult to pursue individually.
At the signing, Presidents Oshiro and Yamazato said that they were looking forward to assisting each other in the education of the next generation. President Lassner said that the agreement would enhance their relationship. Governor Ige commented that he was particularly happy about this signing because of the impending 30th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and Okinawa Prefecture.
May 19, 2015 Sakae Toiyama of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.
On May 17 at 11:40 a.m., a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft crashed over an Air Force base on the Hawaiian island of Oahu during a drill. Of the 22 marines aboard the aircraft, one was killed in the crash, and the other 21 were transported to the hospital. The Marine Corps is currently investigating the cause of the accident. Aircraft of the same model have been deployed at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma since 2012, and Okinawan residents’ concerns regarding the aircraft’s safety have increased even further. After the accident, on the afternoon of May 18, the U.S. Marines stationed on Okinawa announced that they currently have no plans to suspend Osprey operations at Futenma and will continue operating the aircraft there.
According to the Marine Corps, the accident occurred at the Bellows Air Force Base in the southeastern part of Oahu. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in California’s Camp Pendleton were aboard the aircraft. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit was scheduled to be deployed overseas in areas under the authority of the U.S. Pacific Command for seven months starting May 10. The Marine Corps are describing the current crash as a “hard landing.”
Hawaiian TV stations and newspaper homepages are showing chaotic photographs and video of the crash, with vicious flames and huge amounts of black smoke rising from the body of the fallen Osprey. According to eyewitness accounts, a cloud of dust blew up as three Osprey began their descent over the base. Two of the aircraft ascended, but the third dropped out of sight, and black smoke started to rise from the area.
On April 24, third-generation Okinawan American, Alvin Higa, who lives in California and is the first son of Taro Higa, visited Shimabukuro, Kitanakagusuku Village. Taro, who spoke Japanese and lived in Kitanakagusuku Village until he was nine years old, later served as an interpreter for the U.S. army during the Battle of Okinawa. About 120 people of the Village gathered for Alvin’s visit. Shimabukuro community presented a letter marking their appreciation of Taro Higa, saying, “During the war, Taro’s call for surrender in Uchinaguchi saved many lives.”
One of the villagers said to Alvin, “I am here thanks to your father.” Alvin smiled and said that he was happy that people remembered his father. Alvin shook hands with residents and enjoyed dancing kachashi with them. However, he said that he felt sad to learn that villagers had lived such a harsh life in the post war period.
When Taro returned to Hawaii after the war he told people there about the conditions Okinawans were living in and how they didn’t even have pigs. As a result Taro persuaded Hawaiians to donate goats, pigs, and medical goods to Okinawa.
According to Alvin, Taro did not talk much about what he had done but he took many pictures and left detailed documents. These documents have been donated to the Prefectural Archive.
Alvin played the role of his father in a musical drama about Taro. Like Taro, Alvin has a long association with former Governor Masahide Ota. Alvin said that when Ota saw him, he said it was like looking at his father.
Alvin still remembers how his father taught him not to be arrogant. Alvin said that he would like to make more friends in Okinawa and keep up the connections that his father made.
Alvin visited Ginoza Village to trace his father’s movements during the Battle of Okinawa. Before his visit Alvin dreamt about his father. In the dream his father regretted that not many Okinawans can speak Uchinaguchi now, even though Uchinaguchi helped Okinawa in the past. Alvin’s father hoped that Uchinaguchi would be preserved. Alvin said that he would like to study Uchinaguchi and also the languages of other islands in Okinawa.
On the morning of May 14, Nago City Assembly held an extraordinary session. Members unanimously resolved to ask Congress to examine the plan to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago. They want U.S. lawmakers to understand that the Okinawan people oppose the plan. Furthermore, the city assembly unanimously resolved to request the Ministry of Defense to increase transparency regarding the deliberations of the Japanese government’s environmental monitoring committee on the Henoko landfill. The assembly members also resolved to request the ministry to carry out a survey of the destruction of coral reefs in Oura Bay and the sea off Henoko.
The resolution referred to the fact the Japanese government has continued to carry out offshore construction work despite opponents of the plan winning all recent elections on the island, including the gubernatorial election. It claimed, “An agreement between the Japanese and U.S. governments to promote the Henoko relocation plan is a denial of democracy. The United States will become a nation which allows the destruction of nature if it continues to support this plan.” Criticizing the agreement, the assembly members asked the U.S. government and lawmakers to carry out an enquiry into the relocation and the situation in Okinawa generally.
The Nago City Assembly asked the Japanese government’s environmental monitoring committee on the Henoko landfill to disclose how its deliberations are made and requested immediate access to its conference minutes. They also asked the committee to conduct surveys in the sea off Henoko and Oura Bay and to report the findings to the assembly. The resolution documents aimed at the U.S. government and lawmakers will be translated into English and will also be sent to the U.S. Consulate General in Okinawa. The assembly members will hand over written opinions to the environmental monitoring committee and related agencies.
A huge rally against the construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko in Nago, where the governments of Japan and the United States plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, was held on May 17 at Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha. About 35,000 people gathered at the rally and adopted a resolution to block the construction of the new base. The participants demonstrated to people in the Japanese mainland and abroad how the Okinawan popular will is opposed to the new base, something also apparent from the results of the Nago mayoral election, the Governor’s race and the election of the House of Representatives held last year.
The central government has alleged that the only way to close and return the Futenma base to local ownership is by relocating it to Henoko. Okinawa Governor Takeshi stated, “The only solution to the issue is to block the relocation.”
When the governor concluded his speech with the phrase in Shimakutuba (Okinawan dialect), “Do not neglect the Okinawa people!” the crowd responded with a standing ovation.
The central government aims to start landfill work in Henoko this summer as part of the construction of the new base. The rally marked a surge in support for the campaign, led by the governor, to stop the relocation plan. This is the third mass rally that has been held to oppose the Henoko relocation. The first was in Yomitan in April, 2010. The second was also held in Ginowan City in September, 2012 to protest against the deployment of the MV-22 Osprey aircraft and to ask for cancellation of the henoko relocation.
Before Sunday’s rally started at 1:00 p.m., many people from various districts in Okinawa and other prefectures filled the seats of the stadium. Unable to get seats, many others sat on the bleachers or outside the stadium. The participants raised signs saying “No Henoko Base,” “We will not yield.” The resolution calling for the closure and removal of the Futenma base and the halting of construction at Henoko was approved with thunderous applause.
The governor reiterated his determination that he would block the building of the new base in Henoko using every means available. He criticized the Abe administration for its eagerness to push through the Henoko relocation, saying, “This is a corruption of Japanese politics.” “I don’t know how the country will be able to share a similar set of values with other leaders in the world, without guaranteeing freedom, human rights and the values of democracy for its own people. I would like the security alliance between the US and Japan to have more dignity.”
The rally organizers were members of the ruling parties of the prefectural assembly, leaders of the business community and citizens’ groups. They will visit the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on May 25 to submit the resolution approved by the rally. Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine and Chokei Taira, co-leader of the Shimagurumi-kaigi, will visit the United States with Governor Onaga from May 27.
On April 30, at a tidal wetland of Sashiki-fusozaki in Nanjo, Tontonme mudskippers’ breeding season started, and courtship behavior was observed.
Male mudskippers were demonstrating their beautiful back fins to attract the attention of females. Male mudskippers were also threatening each other.
According to Katsunori Tachihara, an associate professor at the University of the Ryukyus, mudskippers are found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. Their breeding season is from spring to early summer.
The Okinawa Meteorological Observatory has announced that there is going to be high atmospheric pressure in Okinawa over the next week or so. However, due to a pressure trough and moist airflow, it is going to be cloudy and rainy at some places later in the week.
The Ministry of Defense is considering deploying the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF)’s missile companies to Ishigaki-jima Island. This was revealed to the Ryukyu Shimpo by anonymous sources on May 11 .
Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Akira Sato asked Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama to cooperate with the deployment of the JGSDF’ security unit, at a meeting held on May 11 in Ishigaki City. However, the plan to deploy the missile companies as well as the security unit was not disclosed at the meeting.
The companies have the same operational mission for surface-to-ship missile and surface-to-air missile as those the ministry has decided to send to Miyako-jima Island. The two missile companies consist of about 120 members. The deployment to Ishigaki-jima will be a total of 550 personnel, including about 350 personnel belonging to the security unit. The ministry plans to send about 750 personnel to Miyako-jima.
The missile companies on Ishigaki and Amami Oshima Island will be placed under the command of JGSDF’s Antiaircraft Artillery Group, which will be set up on Miyako-jima. The ministry will select one of seven candidate sites on Ishigaki-jima.
Regarding the security force deployment, Mayor Nakayama said; “I will cooperate with the central government because it has exclusive authority regarding national defense and security policy.”
Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister of Defense Akira Sato has asked Miyakojima City Mayor Toshihiko Shimoji to host the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF)’s troops (about 700-800 personnel), including surface-to-air missile, surface-to-ship missile and security forces at their meeting held on May 11 at Miyakojima City Office. The two major candidate sites suggested by Sato are golf course Chiyoda Country Club and stock farm Daifuku Bokujo.
The senior vice-minister said, “We must defend people’s lives and property, Japanese territory and airspace.” He asked for the mayor’s understanding and cooperation in the government’s efforts to strengthen the defense of the Nansei Islands.
The mayor said, “I can logically understand there is situation where we face some insecurity.” However, he said that he would wait until after the matter is discussed at the city council to make his final decision on the plan suggested by the government.
May 8, 2015 Kazuya Arakaki and Aiya Hokama of Ryukyu Shimpo
On May 7, it was revealed that film director Hayao Miyazaki intends to become a co-representative of the “Henko Fund,” which was established with the aim of preventing the relocation of U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago City. This information was provided to the Ryukyu Shimpo by Studio Ghibli. Hayao Miyazaki is well known and highly regarded world-wide as a director of anime films, and has won an American Academy Honorary Award, which honors significant achievements in the world of film. In order to support the prefectural government’s platform of preventing the construction of a new military base, participants in the protest movement, including a group called the Shima Gurumi Association, plan to become more vocal and spread word of the Okinawan people’s opposition to the Henoko base widely throughout Japan and around the world. Hayao Miyazaki’s inauguration as co-representative of the Henoko fund will be a significant boost for their future success.”
When the fund was first established, Hayao Miyazaki’s name came up as a potential representative, and Miyazaki was approached in private regarding the matter.
The heads of the fund say they are delighted to have Miyazaki put his name to the cause, and plan to send him an official request to be a co-representative of the fund.
Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Spirited Away” was the first animated film to win the Golden Bear award, the highest prize awarded at the Berlin International Film Festival, in 2002. In 2003, “Spirited Away” won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film. Miyazaki’s later films “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “The Wind Rises” were also nominated for the same award. In 2014, he became the second Japanese person, after the late Akira Kurosawa, to receive an Honorary Award from the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which holds the Academy Awards.
In November 2014, Miyazaki contributed to efforts to gather statements from well-known people supporting the removal of MV-22 Osprey from Okinawa and opposing the construction of a new military base in Henoko. He made the statement; “It is precisely the demilitarization of Okinawa that is needed to achieve peace in East Asia.”
Current co-representatives of the Henoko fund are former Kadena mayor Tokujitsu Miyagi, Kanehide Group chairman Morimasa Goya, Kariyushi Group CEO Chokei Taira, Okinawa Ham Sogo Shokuhin chairman Tokumatsu Nagahama, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan chief analyst Masaru Sato, and Fumiko Sugawara, wife of the late actor Bunta Sugawara. It has also been decided that Okinawan photojournalist Bunyo Ishikawa will be made a co-representative of the fund.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
