2025.10.7

Voices of Okinawa and the Ryukyu: Lecture Series, Part 8

The Problems with Japan's Environmental Assessment System Revealed by the Urasoe West Coast Landfill Project

Purpose:

　On the east coast of Okinawa Island, destruction of the sea continues due to the construction of the new Henoko base building. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the beautiful and biodiverse Urasoe Sea is now threatened by the planned relocation of the U.S. military's Naha Naval Base. The Okinawa Defense Bureau, the project operator, is advancing environmental assessment work to evaluate the relocation's ecological impact and released the scoping document on August 18. However, this assessment cannot protect Urasoe's sea. Japan's environmental assessment process lags significantly behind global standards. Let’s find this fact by examining a problematic document together with our instructors.

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM)

Venue: Okinawa University Annex Kyoso-kan, 2nd Floor (405 Kokuba, Naha City)

　　      (Approx. 400m south of Okinawa University Main Gate)

Organizer: Voices of Okinawa and Ryukyu

Co-organizer: Okinawa University

* No reservation is required for on-site participation.

   A materials fee of 500 yen will be charged.  

* Website:https://ryukyukohp.jimdofree.com/

* Online participation requires prior registration.  

   Registration:https://ryukyus.peatix.com/ 

   Inquiries:[email protected]

Program: Lecturers, themes, and lecture summaries

Dr.Mariko Abe

Profile: Chief of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, ReefCheck Japan Coordinator. Earned a Ph.D. in Marine Environmental Science from the University of the Ryukyus. Engaged in coral reef conservation and coastal management in Okinawa and Amami.

Theme: Environmental Assessment Problems Seen from the Coral Reef Sea off Urasoe's West Coast

Summary: In recent years, the coral reefs of Urasoe have been regaining their health. However, the methods described in the scoping document are insufficient and cannot measure the richness and potential of this sea.

Dr.Kaori Sunagawa

Profile: Associate Professor, Department of Regional Environmental Policy, Faculty of Economics, Okinawa International University

Theme: The Need for Cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment Regarding Multiple Developments on the Urasoe West Coast

Summary: This presentation examines the cumulative environmental impacts of multiple development projects in the Urasoe Wharf area, including the Naha Port Facility Replacement Project, on areas such as the “Natural Environment Conservation Zone” in the waters north of the Urasoe Wharf area, which is designated in the Naha Port Harbor Plan.

Dr.Kunitoshi Sakurai

Profile: Professor Emeritus, Okinawa University; Advisor, Japan Environmental Council

Theme: An Environmental Impact Assessment Must Be Conducted Regarding Its Use as a Military Port!

Summary: The Okinawa Defense Bureau's scoping document is limited to the construction of the landfill site and completely excludes its use as a military port, violating the definition of environmental impact assessment outlined in the Assessment Law. The Defence Bureau should present a revised scoping document that includes the use of the military port within its scope.

2025.7.26 News!

The media should expose hidden truths

for the sake of human rights for all!

Voices of Okinawa and the Ryukyu: Lecture Series, Part 8

The issue of the new military base in Henoko:

the past and the future

Purpose:

The construction of the new base in Henoko, which many citizens oppose, began in 2018 with the forced reclamation of land, and the reclamation has been completed on the Henoko side, where there are many shallow waters. On the Oura Bay side, where the soft ground reaches 90 meters below the water surface, ground improvement work is set to begin in 2024, involving the installation of 71,000 sand piles and drainage materials on the seabed. This reckless plan is expected to take 12 years to complete the new base. The sand for the sand piles is being extensively extracted from the seabed near Okinawa Island, and the landfill soil may be sourced not only from the southern part of Okinawa Island, where remains of war victims are mixed in, but also from outside the island and prefecture. Meanwhile, there are 14 lawsuits related to the Henoko new base construction between Okinawa Prefecture and the national government (10 lost, 4 have been withdrawn), and numerous private lawsuits exist, including the Dugong lawsuit and resident lawsuits.

In the eighth session of this series of lectures, we will hear from experts and activists about the legal battles surrounding the Henoko base, the irrationality of the landfill, issues related to the landfill sand, and the Taiwan contingency, and engage in a discussion on “The Past and Future of the Henoko Base Issue.” We encourage you to participate.

Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Venue: Okinawa University Main Building 1st Floor Alumni Hall

Organizer: Voices of Okinawa and the Ryukyu

Co-organizer: Okinawa University

* No reservation is required for on-site participation.

   A materials fee of 500 yen will be charged.  

* Website: ⇒ https://ryukyukohp.jimdofree.com/

* Online participation requires prior registration.  

   Registration: ⇒ https://ryukyus.peatix.com/  

   Inquiries: ⇒ [email protected]

Program: Lecturers, themes, and lecture summaries

Dr. Hiroto Tokuda

Profile: Professor, Faculty of Law and Literature, University of the Ryukyus (Constitutional Law and Administrative Law)

Theme: “Governmental Acts” Created by the Supreme Court Ruling on Henoko and Their Problems　—Why Has the Henoko Case Continued to Lose? A Hypothesis for an Answer—

Summary: In legal disputes between the national government and local governments, judicial review should be conducted based on the principle of respecting local government decisions when local government governance is functioning properly. However, this principle has failed to function in the Henoko case. This paper identifies the causes of this failure in the theory of “governmental acts” and points out the issues involved.

Mr. Yutaka Kato

Profile: Lawyer, Okinawa Joint Law Office

Theme: Reexamining Why the Henoko Landfill Project Is Unacceptable  

Summary: While the Supreme Court ruling overturning Governor Onaga's revocation of the landfill approval stated that there was no abuse of discretion in Governor Nakaima's decision, the series of lawsuits have not yet reached a final resolution at the Supreme Court regarding the adequacy of the conditions for the landfill approval. It is crucial to continue pursuing the irrationality of the landfill project.

Ms. Etsuko Abe

Profile: Co-representative of the National Liaison Council Against Sand Transport to Henoko

Theme: The Militarization of the Amami Islands and the Transportation of Sand and Gravel to Henoko  

Summary: In recent years, the militarization of the Amami Islands has accelerated, with U.S.-Japan military training taking place in “urban areas” and low-altitude flight training by Osprey aircraft becoming routine. Since late last year, there have also been movements toward the large-scale transportation of sand and gravel to Henoko. This activity aims to promote collaboration between Okinawa and the Amami Islands.

Mr. Gushiken Takamatsu

Profile: Volunteer for collecting the remains of war dead in Okinawa, co-representative of No More Okinawa War/Life is Precious Association, co-representative of Stop the War! Okinawa/West Japan Network

Theme: From the issue of soil mixed with the remains of war dead to the Taiwan contingency  

Summary: The collection of war dead remains is a postwar issue for Japan, and for Okinawa, it is an issue related to the Battle of Okinawa. While we are dealing with the issue of disposing of war dead remains in the sea off Henoko, Okinawa, the Island is now being militarized in preparation for a “Taiwan contingency,” which could result in us becoming war dead remains ourselves.

The Media must expose the hidden truth for the sake of all human rights!　

Voices of Okinawa and Ryukyu.  Series Lecture #7

Think about the Urasoe West Coast Issue from a Citizen's Perspective

Objective

　In the 6th lecture series on January 17, we learned that the sea in Urasoe is terrific. In this 7th lecture, we will learn how the residents living on the West Coast have interacted with this fabulous sea. To deepen our learning, we will observe the west coast of Urasoe (Camiji) before the lecture. In the 6th session, we learned about the historical background of the relocation of the military port from Naha to Urasoe, and this time, we will delve deeper into this issue, considering the relocation of the army port from the military perspective and the perspective of resident autonomy.

Date: April 12, 2025 (Sat) 18:00~20:55 (doors open 17:30)

Venue: Alumni Hall, Okinawa University Main Building 1st floor

Hosted by: Voice of Okinawa and Ryukyu

Co-sponsored by; Okinawa University

Reservations are not required to attend. 500 yen is charged for materials.

Online participation requires advance registration.

For application ⇒ https://ryukyus.peatix.com/ <in preparation>

For inquiries, please get in touch with ⇒ https://ryukyus.peatix.com/

For inquiries, ⇒ [email protected]

The website is ⇒ https://ryukyukohp.jimdofree.com/

Program (18:00-20:55)

Zenro Mekaru: Former President, Minatogawa Neighborhood Association, Urasoe City

Theme: Urasoe West Coast Satohama Activities: Motivation and Goals

Summary: The more substantial the voices of “opposition to the base” and “base removal” become, the less support they receive in elections and other events. Why?　Behind this is Okinawa's unique “land problem. This presentation will discuss the significance of looking back even now through the activities in Minatogawa.

Manato Akira: News Group, Tokyo Branch, The Ryukyu Shimpo

Theme: Is the relocation of the military port really to maintain its function?

Summary: The Ministry of Defense has explained that the relocation of Naha Military Port will “maintain the functions of the current Naha port facilities,” on this basis, the prefectural government and the cities of Urasoe and Naha have approved the relocation. Is it only a matter of maintaining the current functions? This report discusses the possibility that the relocation will lead to the strengthening of the base's functions.

Hiroshi Taniyama: Advisor, Japan International Volunteer Center

Theme: The Urasoe Military Port Issue from the Perspective of Development and Resident Autonomy

Summary: The similarities between Japan's official development assistance and base-linked promotion and development, as well as its counterpart, commons-based (locally shared resources) resident-led development in the age of the SDGs, will be discussed.