(Nanjo) Clothed in a wedding dress, Tomi said, “at last.” On August 30, Tomi, 87, and Yukichi, 86, finally celebrated their matrimony as bride and groom after 69 years of marriage. At the time of their marriage, they were unable to celebrate for family reasons, but their wedding celebration was finally realized as part of Okinawa Watabe Wedding’s community service activities. The two gazed happily into each other’s eyes in their fine clothing, Tomi brimming with happiness as she stroked Yukichi’s cheeks and kissed his hands.
When Tomi was two years old, her mother died in childbirth, and her father died of malaria soon after. Left all alone, Tomi was taken in by relatives, but they did not send her to school, and she spent her childhood helping with household chores. “I was all alone in the world,” says Tomi. “It pained me to hear the rattling of a pen case. I was so lonely I could hardly bear it.” Tomi spoke with effort as she recalled her past.
Tomi was 18 years old when she married Yukichi, who lived in a neighboring town. Yukichi’s parents strongly opposed their marriage because they disapproved of Tomi’s upbringing. Because they married amidst such family opposition, the two were unable to celebrate their matrimony. Sixty-nine years later, on August 30, Okinawa Watabe Wedding made their dream come true.
Tomi, clothed in a pure white wedding dress, grasped tuxedo-clad Yukichi’s hand tightly and said, “I’m so happy. [I’m so happy] I could eat you,” and she made him laugh by pretending to gobble up his hand. “At last. It has been so long.” After this playful display, Tomi gazed at Yukichi with a smile on her face while the staff prepared for their photo session.
At the end, a commemorative photograph was taken of the two with their family, staff at their facility, and Okinawa Watabe Wedding staff. “Thank you!” Tomi called out buoyantly, her voice resonating.
JTA (Japan Transocean Air) President Noriyuki Aoki announced that one round-trip flight between Naha and Ho Chi Minh will be available for charter in December and again in February 2020. JTA has had success with its Seoul, Taiwan and Hong Kong routes; the charter to Vietnam will be its first venture into Southeast Asia. The charter for December goes on sale September 30, and will utilize the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which seats 165.
This is the first international charter flight JTA has made available in two years, since the Hong Kong-Naha flight in January 2017. International charter flights is a stepping stone for JTA to eventually operate regular international routes.
Tokyo – Japan’s Cabinet Office opened an investigative commission to discuss future challenges for the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate School September 12.
In June, the Ministry of Finance released an expenditure review, where it identified “high-cost structures,” and criticized OIST, saying, “(Compared to other similar institutions), the school is high cost in nature, and as such needs to be remedied immediately.
Judging it based on the policy that as costs rise, so should the level of research, we cannot see the value here.”
The MoF expressed their doubts in comparing OIST, meant to be a world-class University for education and research, to other universities.
Conference attendees discussing the future of the OIST graduate school. September 12, the Cabinet Office in Tokyo
In response to the demand for OIST to drastically change their high-cost structure, the university stressed, “In the mere eight years since the founding of the school, there have already been preeminent research results produced.”
The institution pointed to a survey by the English science magazine Nature, which looks into the ratio of high-quality thesis papers, excluding Tokyo University, OIST was this ranked highest in Japan, and ninth highest in the world, arguing that, “the efficiency of spending is on par with global competitors.”
The MoF also indicated the national grant given to the school for their operating budget, which has one faculty member for every 60 employees, is 268 million yen, remarkably higher than the 22 million provided to the Tokyo Institute of Technology, to which OIST responded, “The faculty employ researchers to conduct research.
There are a total of 301 researchers, and the per capita grant is only 53 million yen.”
They also indicated that the grant was lower than the federal grant provided to the California Institute of Technology.
The MoF also demanded that they increase outside funding, but OIST explained that the stable source of “high trust funding” in the form of government assistance led directly to international competitiveness.
Not only does it allow them to attract superior researchers to the institution, but within that, “If we tell people they need to secure outside funding to do research before coming to Japan, the first-class researchers simply will not come.”
At the conference, OIST was informed that the amount being requested for OIST in the 2020 budget was 16.3 billion yen for operating costs, which include research funds, and a little over 4 billion yen for the construction of a new research building.
Shurijo Castle Park’s annual celebration of the fall equinox, “Mid-Autumn Celebration” (Chushu no Utage) kicked off on September 14, on the special stage set up in the Seiden, or main hall area, of Shurijo Castle.
The event includes a reenactment of one of the “seven banquets” (Sappo Shichi-en), which were held during the Ryukyu Kingdom period to entertain the Chinese envoys sent by the emperor.
Five living national treasures, Tokutaro Shiroma, Kishun Nishie, Choichi Terukina, Satoshi Higa and Nouhou Miyagi took the stage in a special joint performance, with the Shurijo Castle as the backdrop.
The crowd of about 1,600 watched on the sanshin (traditional Okinawan banjo), drums and traditional Ryukyu dance performances, while enjoying the crisp early autumn air and the full moon, which illuminated the stage, making for a magical night.
Naha City resident Teruko Nishie, 70, said, “It’s great to see many tourists here.Kumiodori (dance for the envoys) teaches us life lessons, and it’s a source of pride for Okinawans. I think more Okinawans should come see it too.”
The contest to select a king and queen for the Ryukyu Shurijo Castle Festival will be held on Sept 15, in addition to more Ryukyu dance and kumiodori performances.
Nine of Okinawa’s universities and specialized vocational schools held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Press Club on September 17, and announced they have jointly filed a formal request with the Japanese and American governments to bar U.S. military aircrafts from flying above educational institutions and its premises.
The request was lodged with the Japanese government on August 9, and with the U.S. government on August 23.
The letter reasons that “the noise caused by military aircrafts during takeoff, landing, and flying is a hinderance to daily educational and research activities, conferences, and student life,” and calls for restrictions.
President Eiken Maezu of Okinawa International University and others stated during the press conference: “We filed another request for a flight ban this year, in an effort to improve the current situation, rather than giving it tacit approval.”
The petition was signed by: The University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa Christian University and Okinawa Christian Junior College, Okinawa University, Okinawa Women’s Junior College, Okinawa International University, Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Meio University, Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing, and the National Institute of Technology Okinawa College.
The letter was addressed to the Japanese prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister, the president of the United States, U.S. secretary of state, U.S. secretary of defense, chargé d’affaires ad interim U.S. embassy Tokyo, U.S. consul general in Okinawa, commander of U.S. forces Japan, and Okinawa area coordinator for U.S. forces Japan.
The first round of oral arguments was held at the Fukuoka High Court Naha Branch (Judge Masamichi Okubo, presiding) September 18 in the “Voiding of involvement lawsuit,” which was filed by Okinawa against Japan after the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MILT) voided Okinawa’s decision to revoke permission to reclaim land off the coast of Henoko, part of the relocation of MCAS Futenma to the Henoko neighborhood in Nago.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki gave a statement at the courtroom. The day of the arguments was the first and only day of the proceedings, with the decision to be handed down October 23. After the arguments, Governor Tamaki emphasized, “[The lawsuit] is questioning the existence of regional autonomy in Japan.
In the trial, the main point of contention is the legality of the Okinawa Defense Bureau using the Administrative Appeal Act, which is meant to protect the legal rights and interests of citizens, as a “private citizen.”
If Okinawa’s argument is recognized, the revocation of permission for land reclamation will once again become active, halting construction.
In his statement given at the courtroom, Governor Tamaki said, “The government is masquerading as a private individual to use the Administrative Appeal Act, and if their unilateral overturning of the decision made by a local governing body is recognized, true regional autonomy will no longer be a guarantee.”
The central government is arguing, “Since the Local Autonomy Law clearly excludes a ‘decision’ from ‘government involvement’, the subject of the complaint, regardless of the legality of the [MILT minister’s] decision, it does not constitute “government involvement,” and is asking for Okinawa’s lawsuit to be dismissed.
Judge Okubo excluded Okinawa’s request for the examination of the witnesses and a request for an explanation from the central government about the contradiction in their claim as a “request for clarification,” and concluded proceedings.
In the Local Autonomy Law, the “involvement” when the central government intervenes in a decision from a local governing body, is stipulated as, “In addition to doing as little as possible to achieve their goal, they must also respect the autonomy and independence [of the local governing body],” and the suit was raised to void the central government’s involvement in this matter.
Meanwhile, there is a chance that the government’s decision, which was based on the Administrative Appeal Act meant to protect private citizens, will not be ruled as “involvement,” establishing that a lawsuit cannot be filed, which would dismiss Okinawa’s claim.
On September 17 the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, planned to use one U.S. military Open Water Safety Boat for the purpose of training at Motobu Port in Motobu Town.
Although the boat was transported to the port, due to a protest by citizens and longshoremen, use of the boat on this day was abandoned.
The prefectural and Motobu Town governments requested that the U.S. military not make use of this civilian port, yet the Marine Corps took the stance of not accepting the request for restraint and instead forcibly making use of the port.
According to the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG), a Marine Corps spokesperson stated that use of the civilian port was necessary in order to conduct training at Iejima Auxiliary Airfield, and the Marine Corps submitted written notice to the Motobu Port Authority’s office to notify that it would make use of Motobu Port on September 17 and 21.
An Open Water Safety Boat is a small vessel measuring a total of 10 meters in length. This vessel is used for rescue during parachute drop trainings.
A total of three U.S. military armored vehicles and one boat, including a vehicle towing the boat and a guiding vehicle, arrived at the Motobu Port gate at around 7:00 a.m. on September 17.
A maximum of about 120 citizens and longshoremen waged a sit-in in front of the port gate and in front of the U.S. military vehicles, blocking entrance to the port.
At around 4:40 p.m. the U.S. military vehicles pulled away from the front of the gate.
Before noon on September 17, the Marine Corps clarified to the Ryukyu Shimpo that training at Iejima was suspended due to the weather.
Although the explanation given was that the boat departed Motobu Port and arrived at the Kadena Marina, according to citizens, it appeared that around 5:30 p.m. the vehicles entered a gate to Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago City.
(Nago) As of September 16, it was confirmed that a landslide occurred near the U.S. military’s Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot facing Oura Bay in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
The landslide occurred right next to the fence demarcating the base land, and it is estimated from Geospatial Information Authority maps and other references that a cliff having an elevation of around 30 meters above sea level fell over a width of around 15 meters.
The ground is visible over that range and the soil fell all the way down to the shore below.
Residents living near the area expressed discomfort with the authorities’ handling of the situation, saying, “the ammunition depot where dangerous bombs are stored is in an even more dangerous state than usual, but we were told nothing of the situation by the Okinawa Defense Bureau or the U.S. military.”
As seen in a photograph captured using a drone on September 10 by the Okinawa Drone Project, a civic group that monitors U.S. military and Japan Self Defense Force bases, the landslide was also adjacent to a building construction work site in the Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot.
The same spot on May 30.
Near the bottom of the cliff is the K9 embankment where soil to be used for the construction of a new base as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is being unloaded.
Residents engaging in protest action at sea in opposition to the new base construction saw the landslide on August 19, and it is possible that the landslide occurred in mid-August.
In an image of the same spot captured by a Ryukyu Shimpo drone on May 30, trees cover the cliff from beside the fence at the top down to the bottom of the cliff, and the ground is not visible at all.
“We residents are ill at ease not knowing what is stored at the ammunition depot, and we were not even notified of the occurrence of the landslide.
It has been pointed out that there are active faults nearby as well. If we wait until an accident occurs, it will be too late, and the risk to our lives will increase,” said Takemasa Kinjo, 62, who lives in Henoko and has issued complaints about the danger posed by the Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot during petitions to the Defense Bureau.
September 13, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Interviewed by Tsuyoshi Matsumoto (Editor-in-Chief, The Ryukyu Shimpo)
Okinawa’s goal to create “a caring, uniquely Okinawan society, in which no one is left behind,” is also the core philosophy of the prefectural administration, as it advances its U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In August, the The Bankoku Shinryo (bridge between nations) Committee, commissioned by Gov. Denny Tamaki, launched the first of its SDGs discussions.
The Committee, comprising private-sector experts, debates critical issues faced by the prefectural administration.
“No one left behind” is a SDG as well as a slogan the governor adopted before he took office.
What was the inspiration behind his motto, and what drives Gov. Tamaki to make it a reality? We asked the man himself.
“Every finger is important.” His mother’s words embraced individuality.
The governor was born to an Ie-native mother, and an American father, who was a U.S. Marine. His father subsequently returned to the U.S., while his mother made the decision to stay in Okinawa.
She lived and worked in Henoko, Nago City, which has been an area of contention in recent years, over the Henoko military base construction.
Tamaki was raised by another family, in a warm uchinanchu (Okinawan) environment (which provides heart-to-heart connections between people who aren’t necessarily blood related.)
However, he was eventually bullied by older schoolmates, as his physical features stood out.
“I would come home crying, and my mother would say in Okinawan, ‘All ten fingers are different. They vary in shape and size, but each finger is important.
Their differences are what makes them great.’ I naturally learned from her words that individuality is expected.”
“During summer break, I would take the bus and boat to visit my mother’s hometown in Ie Island.
In Ie, even the young elementary school children help out on the fields and care for livestock all day.
The locals would say, ‘You must be so-and-so’s kid,’ and talk to me. There was a feeling, a culture, of everyone watching over the kids.
Times were tough, but there was an abundance of love for the children; we naturally shared what we had with one another, because we were poor. This was also the case in my hometown of Yonagusuku (current day Uruma City).”
A young Denny Tamaki posing with Katsu Chibana. Chibana raised Tamaki; he called her okkah (mother.) (Photograph provided by the governor.)
―What inspired the slogan, “no one left behind”?
“I think it came to me organically, from the environment in which I grew up. My mother and I moved to Koza City when I was ten years old. A town coexisting with a military base—I sensed a special mood.
The Koza riot of 1970 shocked me. I didn’t understand what was happening, and thought we might be at war.
As I grew older, I learned from my seniors that the path forward for post-war Okinawa is fighting for human rights and freedom; I learned from them the dignity of Okinawan democracy.
I began thinking that diversity and tolerance is vital, in order for everyone to live a contented life.”
“This idea was reinforced during my years as a radio personality. Even when I entered the world of politics, I found myself wanting to build a caring, uniquely Okinawan society, where no one is left behind.”
―SDGs can encompass Okinawa’s societal challenges. How did you connect the two?
“The prefecture amassed feedback from its residents, continually engaged in discussions, and put forward the ‘Okinawa 21st Century Vision’—the prefectural goals for the year 2030; it’s at the core of the prefectural administration. When we combine this vision with the SDGs philosophy and plans, you’ll find that it’s compatible with the times, and allows for each and every Okinawan to partake in the development of the prefecture.”
―The nation and the rest of the world are also advancing SDGs.
“SDGs and Society 5.0, which our nation aspires to be, are inseparable. Sustainable development is not all about economics, or all about security.
The global community’s debate on balancing development and security provides us with clues on what ‘uniquely Okinawan SDGs’ might look like.”
―How will you work together with the Okinawan people?
“We must protect human dignity while emphasizing independence, coexistence and diversity; Our point of reference should be a ‘coexistent society’ that offers diversity, inclusivity and tolerance.
Okinawans treasure the chimugukuru (Okinawan ethos) and yuimaru (spirit of cooperation)—We position ourselves between the uyafaji (the previous generation) and the warabincha (the future generation) in the circle of life to think ahead about the future of our society.
This shared value is a strength for Okinawans. Drawing on this strength and our Okinawan-ness, while deploying the ‘Okinawa 21st Century Vision,’ enables us to advance SDGs that are uniquely Okinawan.”
―You also believe dialogue is important.
“Partnership is key to achieving our SDGs. A society can persist only with cooperation. What we need is for the nation, the prefecture, our cities, villages and towns to continually engage in talks.
We can work together as we look to the trailblazing municipalities, and learn from the shortfalls of the prefectural government.
Each and every person is a stakeholder, and I want to ensure Okinawans are a part of the partnership.
Dialogue, cooperation and harmony are all essentially yuimaru.
It’s instilled in us Okinawans. I don’t think it’s a tall order.”
How each of us can contribute: providing clues to getting involved.
―What would you say to someone who is unsure of how to participate in achieving SDGs?
“I say to the kids—when we ask ourselves, ‘What can we do to take care of our oceans?’ and ‘How can we decontaminate the river waters that end up in the ocean?’ it helps us think of ways to be kind to Okinawa, and to the planet.
The objectives of the SDGs are set in areas of economics, society and environment.
At least one of these areas will relate back to our society, and to our lives.”
“Feeling safe and living without uncertainty, in other words, peace, ties back to all aspects of the SDGs. For example, when you realize your lifetime commitment to care for your [pet] dog or cat contributes to peace, that becomes a point of entry to participating in the effort.
If we provide people with these clues and keywords, and show what areas they can get involved in, it will help each person do more. I want to create these points of entry.”
“The ‘All for one, one for all’ mentality is vital in creating a society in which no one is left behind.
We want as many people as possible to view themselves as active participants. Involvement is personal development.”
Gov. Denny Tamaki with his granddaughter. (Photograph provided by the governor.)
―Tell us your vision for the future.
“I want it to be common place for children to grow up in a sound environment, and with dignity.
SDGs are a globally shared framework tool to realize our ideals. What’s important is that we stay focused on our goals, while solving some of the issues at hand.
By working together, we can build a society in which people enjoy the seemingly simple joy of working towards a dream—and that’s what provides personal fulfillment in our lives.”
It is hard to call it a ruling that addressed the suffering of the residents who are forced to live next to the U.S. military base.
During the third round of appeals to a lawsuit, the Fukuoka High Court Naha Branch rejected the request to suspend flights of U.S. aircrafts to cease the roaring noises that come from Kadena.
About 22,000 people who live in the vicinity of the U.S. Air Force Kadena Air Base requested for U.S. aircrafts to suspend flights during the night and early mornings.
The request ordered the payment of a total of 26,125,770,000-yen as compensation from the government.
But the amount has decreased by about 30 percent since the first trial.
Partial health damages that had been recognized during the first trial were not recognized this time.
It also supported the decision of the first trial regarding compensating plaintiffs from Yomitan Zakimi and north of Yomitan Zakimi.
The reason why the request to suspend flights was rejected was because “managerial and operational rights are in the hands of the U.S., so the defendant (government) is not in a position to control the operations of U.S. aircrafts.”
“The request asks for the defendant to prohibit an action by a third party, who is outside the jurisdiction of the defendant, and therefore there is no reason.”
The reasoning continues to employ the “third party action theory” from the first trial.
From the standpoint of the prefectural citizens, this is nothing but surrendering sovereignty, and only displays logic that encourages outrageous operations by the U.S. military base.
This means that as long as the base exists, the residents who live near the base will suffer damages for eternity.
Does the government seriously expect the residents to accept such unjustness?
While the first trial recognized that the noise pollution would increase the risk of high blood pressure occurrences, the appellate ruling stops at “psychological distress, such as anxiety regarding the occurrence of high blood pressure.”
It trivializes the damage and is definitely not something that can be accepted.
Our system of government is the separation of powers in which the powers of the state are separated by administrative, legislative, and judicial powers.
By having each organization independent of each other, it prevents the abuse of power and aims to protect the citizen’s rights and freedom.
The reality where extreme concentration of the U.S. military bases violates basic human rights of the residents is a result of the government’s bad decision making.
There is nothing other than the judicial branch’s power that can correct this course and get us on the right path.
In that regard, we cannot help but feel disappointed about the appellate ruling because it follows national policy and it is as if the government is once again endorsing the unregulated use of the U.S. military base.
While the ruling recognizes the U.S. military’s activities at Kadena Air Base “contributes to benefiting the entire nation” and the nation enjoys the benefits, it did point out that a partial and small number of people, including the plaintiff, are forced to make special sacrifices.
It concluded that “Such unfairness cannot be justified even with the public need for the U.S. military’s activities and its public welfare.”
If an unfairness that cannot be justified exists, then why do they persist with the “third party activity theory?”
They should be ordering the government to request the U.S. military to suspend flights during the night and early mornings.
The noise pollution that exceeds a tolerable limit continues to remain unimproved. Unlawful damages cannot be neglected more than it already is.
(English translation by T&CT and Chelsea Ashimine)
At about 5:30 p.m. on August 8, an armored vehicle apparently belonging to the 15th brigade of the Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) was observed driving on Japan National Route 58 in Nakanishi, Urasoe City bound for Naha, with its machine gun pointed in its direction of travel.
According to a man who took a picture of the armored vehicle, there were two cars driving along as well.
He said, “It’s the first time I have seen [an armored vehicle with its] gun uncovered and accompanied by two GSDF cars.”
In response to the Ryukyu Shimpo, a GSDF spokesperson responded, “It was ordinary travel, I don’t think there was a problem.”
It appears these cars were type 87 reconnaissaince and patrol vehicles, and that these have been deployed to Okinawa upon the establishment of the 15th brigade’s 15th reconnaissaince team.
Team members appeared from the cars, and the armored vehicle drove on with its 25mm autocannon pointed straight ahead.
The GSDF insists that the muzzle of the gun was covered.
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
