Nov 13 (Fri): Saint Kamoshita says, “I think it important to find a course that Okinawa does not depend on the big powers.”; The removal of the old pier caused pollution at Awa.

A group wearing bright yellow monk robes continues the peace procession beating the Uchiwa Daiko (small drams) this week. They are from the Nipponzan Myohoji Temple. It is the most active sect in the Buddhist world, actively involving themselves in peace movements in the world’s conflict areas. Inheriting the teachings of Gandhi’s nonviolence, they go out on the streets and appeal to people for the stupidity of war and the preciousness of nonkilling. In Okinawa, they walk around areas suffering from damage from U.S. military bases such as Kadena, Futenma, Henoko, and Takae, taking one week.

One of them is the Saint Kamoshita (real name: Yuichi 37), who lives in Ginoza Village. He relocated to Okinawa 6 years ago. He was not initially interested in religion but became interested in Buddhism when he was 23 years old.

Finding it difficult to live in Japanese society, he started wandering abroad at 18 years of age. After wandering in Myanmar, Thailand, South America, and other countries, he came to India, encountered a peace procession, and started walking together. While interacting with various people, he felt, “Oh, there is such a way of life. It’s cool.” He started learning to incorporate Buddhism into himself.

“You are forbidden to get married, nor to have sexual relationships. To be honest, it took me some time to decide to become a priest, ” says Kamoshita. He is an only child, and his parents raised him with much freedom. When he told them that he would be a monk, his father strongly opposed it, but his mother didn’t object.

He is worried about the future of Okinawa, finding a similarity between Okinawa and India. The British commodity economy overwhelmed and delayed India’s independence. “We should search for a future unique to Okinawa that does not depend on the economy of the United States or mainland Japan,” says Kamoshita.In Okinawa, he calls for a peace march on Memorial Day (June 23). The number of friends joining the walk is increasing year by year, we hear.

(In front of Camp Schwab Gate)

Approximately 20 members of Naha Shimagurumi (Naha chapter of the Island-Wide Conference) sat down and protested while it was drizzling on and off. Even if bad weather cancels the earth and sand shipping from the ports of Awa and Shiokawa, the construction in the Camp Schwab land section will not stop unless a typhoon comes. The weather turned cold suddenly, but we wore rain gears and continued to protest.

There were three rounds of deliveries during the day, and a total of 186 trucks delivered materials.

(Ryukyu Cement Awa Pier)

About 30 members of the Okinawa Heiwa Shimin Rennrakukai (Okinawa Peace Forum) raised loud voices to protest at the pier’s entrance and exit. If the number of people is large, it will take a longer time for the riot police to remove the protesters, which reduces the number of dump trucks coming through the gate. Today, the number of protesters is small, so the protest is not as effective as we hoped, but they continued rallying in a circle at the entrance. Such efforts allowed only one truck to go through the gate per one green traffic light.