The drone regulations that became effective in May last year make it difficult to photograph the construction site of the new base from above. Masataka Okuhira (an assumed name) who has been distributing the birds-eye pictures to the whole country, thinks that the restrictions actually have been drawn up to target specifically his activities. “We have pointed out many problems that need to be addressed. The central government is afraid that those problems become known to the public.”
Local media and the experts have agreed that the regulations target Henoko.
Masataka Okuhira, a civil engineering expert who has been engaged in large scale public works projects, can easily point out anything out of order by looking at a birds-eye picture. The Ministry of Defense staff has often found themselves unable to answer his questions during discussion.
Okuhira’s father who suffered from leprosy was heavily discriminated during most of his life. When Okuhira read his father’s memoires after his death, he could not hold his tears. Now he tells his father’s story in all his lecture meetings throughout the country.
“The root is the same”, says he.
The information that Okuhira has provided as a civil engineering expert of public works has inspired university professors and seismologists to speak up. Many articles that introduce the experts’ opinion on the problems of the new base construction are now appearing often in different newspapers.
Crying out aloud is no longer a wise way of drawing attention. Nowadays in the world of highly developed internet society, a better and wiser way is to logically point out the unreasonableness of the new base construction from various perspectives.
(In front of the Camp Schwab Gate)
Higa-san sang an Okinawan folk song while playing the Sanshin. The Okinawan dialect gives a slight tone of sadness to the folksongs. The riot policemen stood still for a while with a humble expression on their faces. It was a familiar melody from their childhood. The 3 rounds of deliveries were made during the day, and large vehicles brought 182 loads into the base.
(In front of the Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier)
About 20 people continued the protest all day long. They especially raised their voices against the trucks that were about to turn left to enter the wharf, “Stop, it is dangerous!”
734 truck loadings of earth/sand were carried into the pier grounds. 676 loadings were transported onto three cargo ships. The canoe team protested with nine canoes and one rubber boat beside the pier. All protestors was captured and brought back to the shore, but the departure of 2 vessels was delayed for about 40 minutes each.
(Motobu Shiokawa Pier)
The pleasant wind that blew from the ocean was polluted every time when a truck passed by. Motobu Shiokawa Pier would have been a peaceful place with a beautiful view if the land-fill soil deliveries were not made.
Five protestors continued rallying by slowly crossing in front of the trucks. 382 truckloads of earth/sand were loaded onto 3 cargo ships.
A large belt conveyer was placed in a corner of the port. A shipping contractor brought it in without a permission of Okinawa Prefectural government that is responsible for the port management. The Defense Bureau plans to accelerate the shipping of earth/sand. However, the people of Okinawa will not overlook or tolerate such illegal conduct. A street demonstration took place in front of the Prefectural government office today to show opposition to the use of the belt conveyor. In the afternoon, a group of citizens plan to file a complaint against the responsible manager within the Prefectural government in charge of Motobu Shiokawa Pier.
number of dump trucks to date and percentage against the total
The weight and the volume of earth/soil were estimated per experts’ advice
Number of dump trucks which made delivery from December 2018 to the end of December 2019 114,601(1.68%)
| 21（Sat） | 23（Mon） | 24（Tue） | 25（Wed） | 26（Thr） | 27（Fri） | |
| Awa | 0 | 691 | 720 | 676 | ||
| Shiokawa | 0 | 393 | 427 | 382 |
| Number of dump trucks ※ |
Weightt of earth/sand
※① |
Converted to volume
※② |
Volume per Total
※③ |
| 164,982 | 989,892ｔ | 494,946㎥ | 2.400% |
