Photo/Illutration Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki responds to reporters in Naha on Sept. 27. (Taro Ono)

NAHA--Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki missed the Sept. 27 deadline set by the land minister for approving design changes that are holding up a contentious U.S. military base relocation project within the prefecture. 

Tamaki sent a letter that day to the central government saying it was “difficult to approve” the changes in the landfill work by the deadline. The work is required for building a new base off the Henoko district in Nago to replace U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, located in the densely populated city of Ginowan.

The land minister issued a “recommendation” to the Okinawa governor on Sept. 19 urging approval of the construction design changes proposed by the Defense Ministry by Sept. 27. 

That follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on Sept. 4 against the prefectural government for not granting approval for the changes to solidify the soft seabed off the Henoko district.

A letter under Tamaki’s name dated Sept. 27 to the land minister stated that “it is necessary to thoroughly examine the content of the Supreme Court’s ruling before considering our response.”

It also said that “we receive various opinions from people of Okinawa and scholars of administrative law, so we need to analyze these opinions for a stable prefectural governance.”

Tamaki did not clarify when he might make a decision on the central government’s demand.

The central government started the landfill work off the Henoko district in 2018. But the seabed in Oura Bay was found to be too soft.

In April 2020, the Defense Ministry applied for permission from the prefectural government to revise the plan and carry out reclamation work to shore up the soft ground.

The prefectural government continues to reject the changes, which include driving more than 70,000 piles into the seabed.

Following the top court’s decision confirming Tamaki's legal obligation, the land minister issued the recommendation urging approval of the changes.

Now that the governor has missed the deadline, the minister is expected to soon issue a stronger “directive” to the prefectural government.

If the prefectural government still refuses to give its approval by the directive’s deadline, the minister could file a lawsuit with the high court to start the process toward issuing an administrative subrogation order to gain approval for the design change. 

Related News