Japan Press Weekly

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2015 May 20 - 26 [POLITICS]

Anti-base human chain in Tokyo shows solidarity with Okinawans

About 15,000 demonstrators in Tokyo held hands with each other to form a human chain around the Diet Building on May 24, showing their solidarity with Okinawans’ struggle against the construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko.

The sidewalks outside the Diet Building were full of people wearing blue T-shirts, blue neckerchiefs, or something blue to signify the beauty of the sea off Henoko.

Inamine Susumu, the mayor of Nago City where the base construction site is located, was wearing a dugong-printed open-necked blue shirt. He gave a speech in response to the Tokyoite show of solidarity. He said, “Okinawans will never give up because we are not alone. We will keep fighting hand-in-hand with you all. Please share with us your courage and strength until we achieve victory!”

Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken, three other lawmakers elected from Okinawa, and Okinawa Social Mass Party member of the House of Councilors Itokazu Keiko also took part in the human chain action.

Akamine said in encouragement to the protestors, “Our anti-base struggle has been spreading throughout Japan. I’m sure we will win! I will work to stop Japan from becoming a war-capable nation at any cost. Let us work together!”

A 19-year-old student with a blue cap said, “I went to Henoko with my friends in late March. The right to collective self-defense is really dangerous. I think Abe is steering the country toward a Japan convenient for U.S. policy objectives.” A 19-year-old man said, “The start of the base construction is coming closer and closer. We must stop it now!”

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Accompanied by Okinawa-elected Dietmembers, seven Okinawa Prefectural Assembly members and Nago City Mayor Inamine Susumu on May 25 visited the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Defense Ministry to submit a resolution adopted in the 35,000-rally held in Naha City the other day.

The resolution urges both the Japanese and U.S. governments to close and remove the U.S. Futenma base as well as to give up on the construction plan for a new base in Henoko and the Futenma base relocation within Okinawa.

Past related article:
> 35,000 in Okinawa rally resolve to fight until Abe gov’t gives up Henoko base project [May 18, 2015]