Japan Press Weekly

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2016 December 7 - 13 [POLITICS]

Japan’s public figures send President Obama letter to request cancellation of US helipads construction in Okinawa

Over 100 public figures in Japan have sent an open letter of appeal to U.S. President Barack Obama, requesting that the construction of U.S. Osprey helipads in Takae in Okinawa’s Higashi Village be immediately cancelled.

They released this urgent open letter during a press conference on December 7 in the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.

Names on the list of advocates attached to this letter include Takahata Isao of Studio Ghibli, Music critic Yukawa Reiko, and many other prominent figures including writers, Dietmembers, journalists, artists, lawyers, and researchers. They said that more intellectuals will be adding their names to the list.

The letter states that the Japanese government is now speeding up the construction work in order to finish it by December 22, causing a complete lack of “consideration for the island’s vitally important natural environment”. The letter also states that “[s]uppression by riot police therefore has become increasingly violent and persistent” against citizens who oppose the helipads construction.

“Incessant noise, low frequency sounds, and a descending air current” caused by U.S. Osprey aircraft have been damaging “the habitats and breeding ability of endemic and endangered species of the forest” of Yambaru, dubbed the treasure house of living things. The letter also points out that Takae residents have been “suffering health problems due to the noise and low frequency” transmissions, and that some residents “temporarily evacuated from their homes” because of lack of sleep.

The letter concludes with the appeal, “Please do not drive the people of Okinawa, where one in four islanders was killed during the previous war 70 years ago, into a most sorrowful situation once again.”

Wildlife researcher Miyagi Akino at the news conference said, “There was never a time when we, Okinawans, agreed to offer the wellbeing of the animals, flowers, and insects of the Yambaru Forest as well as our lives to the military of both the Japanese and U.S. governments.” She again demanded that the U.S. President make a bold decision to cancell the U.S. helipads construction in Takae.

Past related articles:
> Okinawa governor criticizes excessive policing in Takae [August 26 & 27, 2016]
> Okinawa assembly adopts statement demanding cancellation of US helipad construction in Takae [July 22 & 23, 2016]