Campaigning starts for Nago mayoral race; U.S. base issue in focus

We should never allow construction of a new base in Henoko. As long as Gov Takeshi Onaga is in office and I am the mayor of Nago, land reclamation will not move forward," Inamine told his supporters Sunday morning.

I hope that his supporters actually make the drive across the island to see that what he is saying is BS. THe construction is moving on, and will continue to do so.

Toguchi told his supporters, "Mr Inamine's administration is excessively concerned with a single issue and has paid little attention to citizens' lives."

He is just copying his mentor Onaga, if Inamine loses this election, and it's pretty hard to tell right now, Onaga could be in trouble too!

Here's to hoping!

That photo is camper than a row of tents.

It's heartening to see more young people getting involved in local politics.

You know an election is coming up when you see a bunch of old-age-pensioners punching the air and looking angry!

It's heartening to see more young people getting involved in local politics.

Right....I wonder how old you have to be to think that 56 is "young" for a politician.

It looks both are right. One is refusing the base. They think Okinawa has to go without depending on bases. The other claims the government aid is necessary to revive local economy.

I wonder if Tokyo and Washington will actually respect the election results if the anti-base canident wins. we already know the answer, MOST LIKELY, NOT.

who care's if Tokyo and Washing respect an election that rides on a decision made already and moving forward. If I lived in Okinawa /Nago Prefecture, I would vote those against progress out especially if it involves bringing jobs which puts food on the table and pays the bills. The tourist salary jobs does nothing except scrape on by and puts the money in the developers pocket and land owner by rent from the resort hotel that does nothing for me.  In addition these two are so out of touch with reality that they keep saying a new base when one is present and therefor not a new base but one that will accommodate and fill a need not a want. If Okinawa was really serious why not waste the effort in having Tokyo commit to a base in the Senkakus and add land mass like China did before they take the islands. That right there has a better chance in resolving their over burdened issues they think they have.

I wonder is it hard to look like a group of children or does it come naturally?

The gov. aid should care for economy revival not only during the weeks of campaining. But the Okinawa people are probably aware of that. Once an election starts, the old geezers with the big checkbooks are droping by promissing the blue from the sky. Fact is those money is for Touguchi and his construction firm mafia, but of course you can get your hopes up if your not really following politics usually.

Its gonna be loud in Nago ( shouting Election promises from 9 to 5 ) but if Touguchi wins its gonna be loud 24/7 with roaring Helis and Ospreys in the sky Monday to Sunday, so take your pick.

Campaigning starts for Nago mayoral race; U.S. base issue in focus

Been here for 20 years and always when election time comes, it's the same exact headline. I think it's only lip service as J-gov has already made up their minds who will be the new Mayor.

i'm a little tea pot...

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will provide a subsidy to Nago for hosting the U.S. facility

Bribery

Okinawa politics unfortunately seem to be more about the USA than the Okinawa people.

everybody, "Im a little teapot short and stout, here is my handle , here is my spout"

we already know the answer, MOST LIKELY, NOT. well you know the base was agreed on decades ago by Okinawa and the central government. If you want to keep breaking agreements then whats the point in making them in the first place. If you want to kick out the marines this government then its perfectly fine if the next government invites them back again. Bit like Korea and the comfort women issue.

Okinawa politics unfortunately seem to be more about the USA than the Okinawa people.

In the eyes of most Americans, Okinawa is only about what is best for the US Military. Most Americans and Japanese consider the Okinawan people to be infandels.

Americans in Okinawa do not consider the Okinawans as infidels. We respect the Okinawan people and live among them harmoniously.

Futenma Marine Corp Air Station should have been relocated many years ago to the back side of Kadena Air Base where the navy is located. Kadena has two large air stripes seldom used.

Or, if not Kadena, relocated to the backside of Camp Hansen with a single air strip - as Futenma now has. After all, this is where the troops are.

Relocating Futenma to Kadena or Hansen, would have served a much better purpose to support the troops. Also, much more cost efficient for relocation - that should have taken place many years ago.

Those poor Okinawans, betrayed by Tokyo and used as part of the frontline of the American Imperium. They get all the meiwaku of hosting the bottom-of-the-barrel U.S. occupation troops in peace time, and should a war kick off, they will be frontline targets for nuke missiles.

Ah, the "We've all got back pain" photo pose. In most of their cases, I can believe it. All that sitting down and watching and hoping for accidents near military bases to give purpose to some of their lives has gotta be hell on the lower back.

"Mr Inamine's administration is excessively concerned with a single issue and has paid little attention to citizens' lives."

Same with Onaga, Inamine has a personal agenda that concerns only himself and the desires of a minority of people.

LET'S GO TOGUCHI SAN!

I wonder if Tokyo and Washington will actually respect the election results if the anti-base canident wins. we already know the answer, MOST LIKELY, NOT.

We don't have to worry because Toguchi will win since he is actually campaigning on more than one issue and planning ways to improve the people of Nago's lives.

In the eyes of most Americans, Okinawa is only about what is best for the US Military. Most Americans and Japanese consider the Okinawan people to be infandels.

Your computer has spell check.... or it just doesn't acknowledge idiotic statements all together.

Those poses get me every time XD

”Live side by side”??? I’ve been to Okinawa many many times. The only western people I see in a restaurant, cafe, izakawa, bar are tourists. The local people avoid US military like a plague.

American troops in Japan are not from the bottom of the barrel. They are in Japan to insure your freedom.

Mr Payne, "freedom"? Freedom from whom? They want freedom from US and we just continue our near three generational military occupation. It may be hard for you to understand but we are not protectors but invaders and we refuse to do what the Japanese people ask us to do, give them freedom from us. If the Russians were in our place, would Japan still be "free" as it is now in your mind? We are way more of a liability for Japan than we are a blessing, especially in a shooting war with China or Russia. Japan, as our westernmost military fortress will take the brunt of the first hit in a Pacific war and that, as far as we are concerned, it was they're for. Nihon is still our prisoner. If we had lost and Japan and Germany had troops entrenched all over our country protecting OUR freedom, would you be happy with that? Having your 'freedom protected' by being made point in any serious hostilities? And Abe is America's puppet and, potentially, the single most serious threat to Nihon's future. Militarism is bad for everybody and when you are as small and resource poor as Nihon, it's national suicide in this world today.

GoodlucktoyouToday 01:06 pm JST

”Live side by side”??? I’ve been to Okinawa many many times. The only western people I see in a restaurant, cafe, izakawa, bar are tourists. The local people avoid US military like a plague."

This is a very untrue statement. It shows little knowledge of Okinawa - its people and the Americans.

This ridicules untrue statement is not worthy of further comment, but I will say, Okinawa has been my home for 57 years, generation after generation, we have lived side by side with harmony.

Americans do frequent off base restaurants - I know for sure, as my sons and I own a chain of 10 full course dinner house restaurants in Okinawa.

Often, any untruths about Okinawa and its people are usually from unknowledgeable outsiders - attempting to create bad feelings that are not true.

Ray Payne- Americans in Okinawa do not consider the Okinawans as infidels. We respect the Okinawan people and live among them harmoniously. 

Futenma Marine Corp Air Station should have been relocated many years ago to the back side of Kadena Air Base where the navy is located. Kadena has two large air stripes seldom used. 

Or, if not Kadena, relocated to the backside of Camp Hansen with a single air strip - as Futenma now has. After all, this is where the troops are.

This could have been done in the 90's, however the Marines are not designed to be a deterrence force in the first place and it really doesn't matter where their at. If the excuse is for rapid response to North Korea, both Mainland Japan and South Korea are much closer. The 3rd Marines were originally planed to be deactivated in the 90's. After the resource I have done, its time to respect the Okianawan people and remove the marines as the have ask us to. Many people seem to forget that they never wanted us their in the first place. When did it become our right to tell someone else what to do.

www.g2mil.com/okinawa-solution.htm

CyburnecticTiger-

We don't have to worry because Toguchi will win since he is actually campaigning on more than one issue and planning ways to improve the people of Nago's lives.

This is a decision that should be made by the Okinawan people.

Your computer has spell check.... or it just doesn't acknowledge idiotic statements all together.

Oh well, I was born with more severe form of Dyslexia. So if you have a problem with my language process disability, which affects my ability to properly perform at grammar and spelling the that is your problem. Just because I have ADA disability doesn't make me an idiot so do not call me one.

It seems like you have disparaging views towards certain groups of people.

It will be made by Okinawans and they’ll support Toguchi.

Your accusation of me being disparaging towards a certain group is hilarious and hypocritical. Especially with the rude, unfounded and insulting comments you make against Americans and the US Armed Forces. I don’t think disability makes you an idiot but the irrational things you say don’t help your argument.

Well said William Bjornson. Refreshing to find an American who knows the score with regard to Japan and Asia in general. Japan is intended to be fodder for any war in Asia.

William BjornsonToday 02:17 pm JST

The American military is in Japan by the request of the Japanese government. Japan will do what is best for Japan and its people.

"to find an American who knows the score."

? ? ?

The local people avoid US military like a plague.

Sad by someone who knows nothing about Okinawa and the people here. Why do people insist on being ignorant?

Yubaru: "Why do people insist on being ignorant?"

We both know the anti-US/anti-base posters on here and such people in Okinawa would have absolutely nothing to do if they couldn't be angry at someone other than themselves for doing nothing else.

Those people who sit at the observation decks with binoculars begging for an accident so they can be upset? They would have nothing to do but realise how much time they've wasted for nothing.

Ray Payne, the Americans have never respected the people of Okinawa. I still remember the foul food they tried to push during a food shortage. I also remember how "grateful" the Americans told us to be to them.

The local people avoid US military like a plague.

Ive been living here for years... while I served and after that time. At no point has anyone avoided me and the bonds I share with my Okinawan neighbors are as deep as a friendship can get. It’s a friendship and respect like this for most Americans and Okinawans. Many of us (the people of all nationalities who live on this island) look at the people who say the the opposite as having no understand or respect for Okinawa.

I spent 3 years in Okinawa as a corpsman and 1 year as a civilian. I remember all the protesting every day, I remember seeing the second class feelings from the locals. It’s seriously time to just leave.

YuriOtani: "Ray Payne, the Americans have never respected the people of Okinawa."

Wrong. You have anger about the past, that is clear. What's also clear is that you are misdirecting it and once again making blanket statement about what everyone thinks on the very same post you claim Americans tell Okinawans want to do and think.

"I still remember the foul food they tried to push during a food shortage."

So... just to get this straight... you remember them giving you food when there was a shortage. Got it.

" I also remember how "grateful" the Americans told us to be to them."

I remember my three-year-old niece complaining about the food at the dinner table last night and refusing to be grateful, too. She does that a lot. In fact, most children do. Adults ought to know better, though.

And did you know the reverse is true as well? When American POWs were given burdock root by Japanese prisoners (gobo), they thought they were being fed garbage and it was abuse.

I spent 3 years in Okinawa as a corpsman and 1 year as a civilian. I remember all the protesting every day, I remember seeing the second class feelings from the locals. It’s seriously time to just leave.

Bull, they dont protest every day, YOU feel second class because maybe, well...you figure it out!

I am surprised the LDP people are not wearing MNGA (Make Nago Great Again) caps. So I guess Mr. Toguchi is going to be able to do what all of the former LDP Mayors of Nago could not do even with all of the money they got from the Central Govt., make Nago an economic boom town. What kind of industries and what kind of good paying jobs is Mr. Toguchi going to bring to Nago? What is going to happen is the Central Govt. will waste taxpayers money on Public Work Projects that benefit Mainland Japanese Construction companies just like that monstrosity they are building at Henoko which is basically a huge public works project that benefits the large Mainland Japanese Construction companies that are Major Donors of the LDP.

CrucialSToday 04:16 pm JST

"The local people avoid US military like a plague.

Ive been living here for years... while I served and after that time. At no point has anyone avoided me and the bonds I share with my Okinawan neighbors are as deep as a friendship can get. It’s a friendship and respect like this for most Americans and Okinawans. Many of us (the people of all nationalities who live on this island) look at the people who say the the opposite as having no understand or respect for Okinawa."

CrucialSToday,

You have told the truth. I dislike hate-mongers attempting to create a bad impression of Okinawan and American friendship. I must see at least 50 mixed race couples a day, of American men with Japanese girlfriends or wives. Okinawa is a place where the bonds between Americans and Okinawans are possibly the deepest in all of Japan. Politics is one thing, friendship is another. Having a shared history for more than 70 years has brought our two cultures together in a way that cannot be described in a few words.

Ray Payne- I agree the relationship between Americans and Okinawans on and individual basis is quite good, my wife is Okinawan I know this well. However if the Okinawans want a reduction in force without this intrusive replacement, which most Americans would not except as well. It is the for the marines to understand that this land does not belong to them. If a hotel tells a marine to leave then that marine should be respectful and just leave.

When did it become our right to tell someone else what to do.

It's not. But it is the Japanese governments right to tell Okinawa what to do, not the other way around.

If a hotel tells a marine to leave then that marine should be respectful and just leave.

A more correct analogy would be the owner of a hotel is telling the Marines 'Please enjoy your stay', while the assistant manager is yelling in the background for them to leave.

 Governments are to serve the needs of the people and elected by the people therefore the "boss" is the people. Governments need to listen to the people, and in this case the local people of Okinawa.

So, then by your logic, the prefecture has the right to tell the national government what it's needs are with regards to national security and international treaties?

The prefectural government has NO right to tell the national government what to do about national security.

Smith you have no ideal what it was like to be second class in your own nation. You have no ideal what it is like to lose your father because of the occupation. The Americans treat us badly then as they do today. There is nothing like being fed garbage. In fact my father fed us from the Americans trash and it was considered privilege!

Is it not strange then that you married an America and live in America, the country you claim to hate.

The very thing she hates is the very thing that saved her life! Hard to understand isn't it!