On the morning of February 8, The 18th World Food Festival was held to foster the international exchange at Nago Civil Hall. Participants enjoyed home cuisines from 11 countries, including Ghana, Hawaii, India, and Morocco, which took part in the event for the first time, and Southeast Asian, South and Central American countries. There was an African drumming performance. Brazilian students sang their national anthem. Various shows added excitement to the festival.
At the opening ceremony, Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine made a speech, saying; “ Without going out of Okinawa, we can enjoy eating food from different countries. I was looking forward to the festival.”
The governments of Japan and the United States are advancing the construction of a new U.S. base in Henko, Nago, in order to relocate U.S. Marine Corp Air Station Futenma in Ginowan. On February 22, an Okinawan people’s rally protesting the construction of the base was held in front of Camp Schwab in Henoko. About 2,800 participants from in and outside Okinawa protested against the Okinawa Defense Bureau saying its drilling survey is destroying the environment. They also complained that excessive force is being used by the Japan Coast Guard and Okinawa Prefectural Police. The Executive Committee, which comprises members of civil groups, Diet members belonging to opposition parties, including those elected in the four single-seat constituencies in Okinawa Prefecture, and Okinawa Prefectural Assembly members belonging to five ruling parties, organized the rally.
Two protesters, including the director of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center Hiroji Yamashiro were apprehended by U.S. military on the morning of the same day. Yamashiro was scheduled to make a speech at the rally. The rally opened with the crowd yelling in chorus: “Let’s release our brothers!” “Don’t allow a wrongful arrest!”
Masaharu Kina, the chairperson of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly stated, “Assembly members are determined to cancel the Henoko relocation plan, working together with the people.” The assembly has adopted a resolution to seek cancellation of the new U.S. base.
Toshinobu Nakazato, a member of the House of Representatives, stressed, “In Okinawa’s post war history, the U.S. built military bases by using bayonet and bulldozers. We can’t give our hands to help build a new U.S. base in Okinawa.” He asked for united efforts in the ‘All-Okinawa’ movement, which helped all the candidates win in the gubernatorial race and the election of the House of Representatives.
Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine said in his speech, “There are barbed-wire entanglements placed on both sides of the road. The scene symbolizes the real Okinawa. We have been forced to live in such a life for 70 years. Even more, the governments are building an air base which is going to be used for more than a hundred years. We cannot accept it.”
Hiroshi Ashitomi, co-representative of the Helicopter Base Objection Association, said, “We cannot allow an unlawful arrest by U.S. military. The U.S. military has occupied Okinawa and has built their bases by driving us out of our houses and fields without our permission. They have no right to ask for a new base.”
Okinawa Defense Bureau and Okinawa General Bureau have demanded removal of the tent set up by protesting residents near the gate of Camp Schwab. Takeryu Toguchi, a second-grade student of Nago Senior High School, made a speech, referring to the tent, “Isn’t it really the U.S. base that should be removed? It is not the tent.”
On February 19, the regular monthly meeting of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly was held. At the meeting, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga announced the policy of the prefectural government for the fiscal year of 2015. Onaga talked about the relocation plan for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko in the Nago district. He once again stressed, “As the Okinawa governor given a mandate by the Okinawan people, I will govern on the basis of preventing a new U.S. military base from being built in Henoko, and seek to move the base outside of the prefecture.” Regarding the independent committee examining the legality of former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima’s approval of the Henoko landfill, Onaga declared, “I will consider canceling and rescinding the approval.” He also announced he would request the central government stop operations at Futenma within five years and rescind the deployment of the Osprey to Okinawa.
Onaga declared he would promote economic strategies, which emphasize cooperation with Asian regions that are rapidly developing. By pushing Okinawa’s soft power, the Onaga administration intends to create an international logistics hub, and expand and strengthen leading industries, including tourism resorts and information technology. Onaga said he would aim at over one trillion yen of tourism revenue and increase the number of tourists visiting Okinawa to over 10 million.
While the administration plans to raise the qualifying age for subsidized health care costs for children to preschool age, they are drawing up a project to streamline childcare centers in municipalities and approve non-licensed childcare centers. Onaga said, “We plan to eliminate ‘childcare waiting lists’ in certified day-care centers by the end of the fiscal 2017.”
Onaga discussed the return of the land used by U.S. bases south of Kadena. He said, “We will promote use of the land.” As he has pledged, Onaga plans to work on stationing resident officials in Washington D.C. and fundamentally reviewing the Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement.
Onaga also talked about social capital, upgrade of industrial infrastructure, employment promotion, conservation of natural environment, Okinawan cultural inheritance, improvement of medical services and welfare. He further announced he will promote the remote islands, education, and international exchanges. He declared, “I will do my best to work on carrying out my policy pledges in order to measure up to Okinawan people’s expectations.”
PET bottles have saved a man who fell into a river in Naha. At 0:28 p.m. on February, Naha City Fire Headquarters received an emergency phone call from a citizen. He said, “A man fell into the river.” He noticed the man when he was walking on a road along Shiowatari River at Maejima in Naha. He threw the PET bottles to the drawing man, following instructions by firefighters. The man grabbed the bottles and waited for the arrival of rescue members. He was transported to a hospital by an ambulance, but was not in a life-threatening condition.
Members of the Naha City Fire Officials Councils use this simple rescue tool, made out of plastic bottles. This is a set of three bottles painted with red color and tied with green string. This can be used instead of a rescue float when someone falls into a river. The association installed them at 28 locations near rivers. According to the city fire department, it is the first time that someone has been rescued by this PET bottle float. Naoya Maeshiro, the chairman of the council, said, “With the help of one PET bottle, a person is able to float on water. I want to make this known to everyone.”
Large concrete blocks weighing 10-45 tons have damaged coral in Oura Bay, Nago, the planned site of the replacement base for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Okinawa Defense Bureau has installed blocks on the seabed to fix floats marking a temporary restricted areas.
On February 14, a photographer of the Ryukyu Shimpo took a picture of the scene. This photograph proves that corals have been hurt outside the area that the Okinawa Prefectural Government approved for the defense bureau to crush coral reefs.
The U.S. military plans to build military helipads as a condition of the partial return of its Northern Training Area. The governments of Japan and the United States agreed to provide two touchdown areas in N4 area, which is the closest to Takae Village, before returning the land occupied by the U.S military to landowners. On February 16, members of the Association of Residents Against the Helipad visited the Okinawa Defense Bureau. They have asked the bureau not to let the military use N4 touchdown area.
Kazunori Inoue, the head of the Okinawa Defense Bureau, said, “We do not decide when we provide the land to the U.S military.” Inoue continued, “N4 touchdown area is not newly built. We partially reformed the existing touchdown area LZ17. After the reform, we have provided the land to the military.”
Local citizens said, “It is not a reform. It is a new construction. What the bureau did is not part of from the agreement reached between Japan and the United States. It is irresponsible.”
Inoue said that the Higashi Village Mayor and the Takae District Mayor requested the bureau not allow construction vehicles to pass through Takae. He explained, “We have permission from the Takae District Mayor.” The residents asserted, “Takae district twice made resolutions to protest against the new helipad construction.”
Before the meeting with the bureau, the residents held a protest rally in front of the bureau’s office building. About 80 people, including about 50 members from the Island-Wide Council raised their voices in protest against the new agreement.
On February 22, officers from Nago Police Station arrested two men for allegedly trespassing onto U.S. Marine Camp Schwab. According to the Okinawa Prefectural Police, they have been charged with violating the Act on Special Measures Concerning Criminal Cases.
Hiroji Yamashiro, the director of the Okinawa Peace Movement Center and Daigaku Tanimoto, were protesting against construction of a replacement base for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Henoko when they were arrested. This is the first time Henoko protesters have been arrested for violating the Act on Special Measures Concerning Criminal Cases in front of the Camp Schwab gate. Law experts have criticized the police for applying the act in this case.
Yamashiro and Tanimoto were allegedly suspected of trespassing onto Camp Schwab around 9 a.m. on February 22. According to witnesses, protestors scuffled with Japanese security guards working for the U.S. military, in front of the base’s new gate. Then Yamashiro and Tanimoto were dragged into the base by the security guards. The pair were detained on the base for about four hours, and then turned over to Nago Police Station at around 1 p.m. According to attorneys who spoke to the arrested protesters, they were taken to the base with their hands cuffed behind them.
According to the Okinawa Prefectural Police, at around 9:30 a.m, the U.S. military reported that they had constrained the two men. Tadashi Zukeran of the prefectural police said, “We got debriefed by the U.S. military and they let us watch footage of the incident.”
A spokesperson for the prefectural police said, “The U.S. military secured and constrained Yamashiro and Tanimoto.” A spokesperson from the public affairs office for the Marine Corps Base on Okinawa told the Ryukyu Shimpo the Japanese security guards “arrested” Yamashiro and another protester for trespassing onto Camp Schwab.
Following the arrests of the protestors, many citizens gathered at Nago Police Station. They raised their voices in protest, claiming the arrests were unjustifiable and demanding the immediate release of the protestors. Nago Police Station sent the protesters to the Naha district public prosecutors office on February 23.
On the same day, the district public prosecutors office released Yamashiro at 7:44 p.m. and Tanimoto at 7:50 p.m.
As part of the forced relocation of U.S Marine Corps Air Station to Henoko in Nago City, the Okinawa Defense Bureau has dropped concrete blocks weighing between 10 and 45 tons on the seabed at dozens of locations off the coast of Henoko. The concrete blocks placed on the seabed have damaged coral. On February 16, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga held a press conference at Okinawa Prefectural Government Office. Onaga announced that he has ordered the bureau to stop dropping the blocks and not to move the ones already dropped. This is the first time the Okinawa governor has exercised his gubernatorial authority to prevent the Henoko landfill. Onaga claimed the bureau has dropped blocks out beyond the area where the Okinawa Prefectural government (led by former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima) approved rock reef destruction. He clearly stated that if the bureau does not follow the order, he will consider cancelling the land reclamation work approved by Nakaima.
Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani said, “We are carrying out the landfill lawfully.”
The Okinawa Prefectural Government has demanded the bureau stop the operations beyond the area where rock reef destruction was approved last August, and submit related documents. After receiving these documents from the bureau, the prefectural government plans to order the bureau to restore the original condition of the seabed. They plan to survey the scene for about 10 days from February 27 to check the extent of damage to the coral.
Onaga talked to the press, saying, “It is a real shame the bureau’s acts have damaged coral when the prefectural government requested they postpone the drilling survey ahead of the planned construction.” If the governor decides to cancel the approval of rock reef destruction, it will have a huge influence on the relocation plan.
The prefectural government demanded the bureau submit documents, including a drawing sheet of the blocks, the exact location where they were placed, how heavy they are, and seabed photographs before and after the blocks were dropped, by February 23. The prefectural government warned that if the bureau does not follow the order, the Okinawa governor may cancel the approval.
When former Okinawa Governor Nakaima approved rock reef destruction in the marine area covering 172 hectares, it was on the basis that the bureau follows orders from the prefectural government for the reason of the public interest. The prefectural government also mandated that cancellation of the approval could happen if violations of terms are found. These conditions are based on the Okinawa Prefectural fisheries industry adjustment rules.
In his press conference on February 16, Hiroshige Seko, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, claimed, “The prefectural government said that placing the blocks on the seabed does not require permission. We are following that.” Seko added, “We have carried out the reclamation work through appropriate and delicate processes. It is really deplorable that the Okinawa governor has made such an order.”
Since the bureau started dropping the blocks on the seabed off the coast of Henoko, citizen groups have confirmed that it has damaged coral and the prefectural government has questioned the operation. Receiving the order from the prefectural government, the Okinawa Defense Bureau said, “We are now verifying the facts.”
The Fisheries Agency stipulated the Act on the Protection of Fisheries Resources, on which the Okinawa Prefectural fisheries industry adjustment rules are based. The agency said that it has never seen the cancellation of rock reef destruction.
In relation to the U.S Marine Corps Air Station relocation to Henoko in Nago City, 2,662 citizens handed in an urgent petition to Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga on February 10. The citizens asked the Okinawa Prefectural government to order the Okinawa Defense Bureau to stop the installation of anchors at Oura Bay. In the petition, they also demanded the governor request the bureau to submit a new application for rock reef destruction. Former Nago City council member Yasuhiro Miyagi started the petition on the Internet.
More than 2,000 people signed the petition within two days after Miyagi called for it on February 7. Having this many people sign the petition in such a short time reflects citizens’ frustration over the new base construction being forced through while the intellectual committee set up by the prefectural government is still examining the validity of the approval of the Henoko landfill.
In a request letter that accompanied the petition, they pointed out the installation of anchors is destroying reefs and rocks, and they urged the prefectural government to immediately ask the bureau to stop the landfill. The request further suggested a cancellation of the approval of rock reef destruction in case the bureau does not follow the request.
Miyagi and Professor Manabu Sato from Okinawa International University visited the prefectural government office in the afternoon of the same day to hand Tsutomu Akasaki of the department of Coastal Administration and Disaster Management the letter and petition. Miyagi made an appeal to the public; “The construction is being carried out while the prefectural government is still examining its legality. We are taking this issue very seriously.” Akasaki stated the prefectural government was considering questioning the bureau over a temporary dock. He said, “I will tell the governor and vice governors.”
Professor Sato stressed in the press release, “There is no meaning to the inquiry, if the main construction begins before the committee completes the examination. The governor must stop the situation with every authority he has.”
On February 8 at Kokusai Street and the Naha Bunka Tenbusu Hall in Naha City, a public Ryukyuan wedding was held. The ceremony was a re-enactment of a traditional ceremony from the Ryukyu Kingdom era. ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Okinawa Harborview sponsored the event to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Twenty-four-year-old groom Yoshimoto Tsuha and 25-year-old bride, Wakana were selected among 40 couples that applied. Wearing traditional Ryukyuan clothes and performing a traditional newlywed ceremony, they received many blessings at the beginning of this new phase of life.
For the “Niibichi Parade,” the bride, groom, and their families were led by a flag holder paraded from the Mutsumi Bridge in Naha City. The newlywed couple appeared to be shy after being cheered by friends. After the parade, a wedding ceremony was held in front of the Tenbusu Naha plaza. The couple performed the newlywed ceremony of Nudinuchaaji, for which the couple wore a piece of kimono. At the end, audience and tourists also joined in to dance kachaashii.
Tsuha said, “We would like to make a family full of smiles.” Wakana, who applied for the ceremony, was smiling from the beginning to the end and said, “I am happy to be surrounded by many people.”
U.S. Marine Corps officials have frequently made insulting remarks against Okinawan people opposing U.S. base construction. Their remarks are not just personal opinions, but reflect an entrenched attitude. We cannot help but say prejudice is deeply ingrained in the Marine Corps organization .
There have been injuries to citizens protesting against construction work for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan to Henoko, Nago. Capt. Caleb D. Eames, the deputy public affairs officer for the Marine Corps Base on Okinawa, referring to this, said, “The attempt to appear injured is laughable when you see it in person.”
The results of an investigation carried out by the Ginowan City Government show the number of Osprey flights is increasing. Regarding this report, “break out a calculator and do the math for yourself,” Capt. Eames posted on Facebook. He has no consideration for the people suffering from problems caused by U.S. military bases. His remarks are not just an expression of personal opinion, but amount to just mental abuse. His attitude is a disgrace, and shows he is not fit for the job of public affairs officer.
Such insulting remarks are not only coming from Capt. Eames, but also other officers. Maj. Tim Kao, the commander of Camp Gonsalves in the Northern Training Area in Higashi, accused residents protesting against construction of a helicopter landing zone (helipad) of being paid by a fundraising group, nonprofit or political party. He has used accusatory language against the residents, while providing no proof for his claims.
Moreover, Robert Eldridge, the foreign policy deputy director of U.S. Marine Corps on Okinawa, posted this comment; “Wake up folks,” in defense of Capt. Eames’ remarks which initially appeared in an article on the Japan Times.
Reporters at the Ryukyu Shimpo asked the three officers what their true intentions were, by email or over the phone and in direct contact with them. However, they refused to comment. If they have responsibility for their own words, they should explain publicly their intentions.
A position directional written for public affairs operations states “Tell the Truth. The joint force commanders’ public affairs personnel will release only accurate information.” The verbal abuses made by the three marine corps officers go against the mission of the joint public affairs of the United States Forces. They are not entitled to continue their duties. If U.S. Marine Corps leave this issue without further comment, the officers’ remarks will be taken as the mission of the U.S. military.
The U.S. forces highlight a “good neighbor” policy regarding stationing in Okinawa. The officers’ remarks show that they are willing to behave as a good neighbor but only to residents who favor the U.S. military presence. They have become a bad neighbor to residents who raise any objection to it.
Such an opportunistic neighbor is a nuisance for residents, and not welcome in Okinawa.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
