PRESS CONFERENCE

"50 years since the reversion of Okinawa"

Denny Tamaki, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture

10:00-11:00 Friday, May 6, 2022

(Language: The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation. Governor is joining the event remotely.)

 

May 15 marks the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japanese administration from the U.S., which had held the islands since the end of World War II. Fifty-five percent of prefectural residents are dissatisfied with the course of history over the past half century, a recent Kyodo poll shows.

Okinawa hosts the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan. This is not lost on locals, the majority of whom say the burden should be reduced. For more than two decades, Tokyo and Washington have pushed for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base to the less populated coastal area of Henoko. But strong opposition has stalled the transfer.

Okinawa prefecture's closest island to Taiwan lies only 110 kilometers away, a proximity that could easily pull Okinawa—and Japan-- into any potential conflict between China and Taiwan.

Denny Tamaki, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, will come to the FCCJ ahead of the May 15th anniversary to discuss the latest situation on the islands.

 

How to attend: 
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding. 

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live 　
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel. 

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/NmYTSXCn5tbpHVLH7     　
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. 

Professional Activities Committee