Japan Press Weekly

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2018 September 26 - October 2 [POLITICS]

Religious groups vow to work together to achieve victory in Okinawa gubernatorial race

Religious groups in the anti-base “All Okinawa” movement on September 25 in a gathering commemorating the late Governor Onaga Takeshi vowed to fight for the victory of their candidate in the approaching gubernatorial election.

On this day, 170 people, including “All Okinawa” candidate Tamaki Denny and religious people, gathered at a local Catholic church in Naha City for a Buddhist “forty-nine-day” memorial service for the late Onaga.

Tamaki took the platform where Onaga’s photograph was displayed with flowers surrounding it to deliver a speech. He said that he will work hard to block the Henoko base construction in line with Onaga’s firm determination.

Kamiya Takehiro, a pastor at Futenma Baptist Church, quoted Bible verses regarding the strength needed during hard times, and said, “Let us keep on working to prevent a new base from being constructed in accordance with Onaga’s position. By doing so, the governor’s memory will live in our hearts. We have to stick to our intent to achieve the goal of establishing a true peace in Okinawa.” Kamiya is also the principal of the Futenma Baptist Church-affiliated nursery which is located next to the U.S. Futenma base. The childcare facility at the end of 2017 experienced an incident in which a U.S. military helicopter dropped a part onto the facility’s roof.

“All Okinawa” council co-head Takasato Suzuyo said, “Let us follow Onaga’s wishes and increase our efforts to achieve Tamaki’s victory in the election!”

The reciting of Buddhist sutras and the singing of hymns were offered in the ceremony.

Past related article:
> ‘All Okinawa’-backed gubernatorial election candidate: Get Henoko base project stopped [August 30, 2018]
> We will never extinguish anti-base 'All Okinawa' flame: Okinawans on the death of Gov. Onaga [August 10, 2018]