News from the Peace For Okinawa Coalition

According to a poll by Kyodo News, 53.3% of people in Japan oppose the state funeral for Shinzo Abe. 

The Zento Eisaa (Island-Wide Eisa) Festival Executive Committee has announced that the Festival has been postponed due to escalating COVID cases in Okinawa. The annual Zento Eisaa Festival is one of Okinawa's largest and most popular eisaa festivals. The Festival was originally scheduled to be held this year on the 20th and 21st of August, though now has been postponed to sometime near the year's end. 

Eisaa is a traditional Okinawan form of drum dancing that dates back to ancient times, and is Indigenous to Okinawa Island.

The postponement of the Zento Eisaa Festival also draws into question whether or not the upcoming World Uchinaanchu Festival will still take place this October, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Okinawans in Kadena Town, Okinawa are opposing the planned construction of two large new aircraft hangars by the United States military. The hangars are scheduled to be built on the edge of U.S. Kadena Air Base, and will likely cause loud noises, as well as contribute to the plethora of other problems caused by the U.S. military. 

Okinawan politician Mr. Iha Yoichi of the All-Okinawa Coalition has won re-election, representing 'Okinawa Prefecture' in the Japan Diet. The All-Okinawa Coalition opposes the illegal construction of the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa. This is an important victory for Uchinaanchu / Okinawans / Luchuans all over the world. Congratulations to Mr. Iha Yoichi! 

Kin Town, Okinawa - Gunshots fired by the U.S. military could be heard around 8:30 pm, disturbing residents. Click on the images below for links to videos via Twitter.  

#琉球独立復原　＃沖縄独立復原

Presentation starts around the 31:00 minute mark. 

United Nations Human Rights Council 50th Session. Geneva, Switzerland. With Alfred de Zayas, Ronald Barnes, Robert Kajiwara, Leon Siu. 

United Nations Human Rights Council 50th Session, Geneva, Switzerland. Part of the side event titled "The Continuing Negative Impact of Colonialism."