On the Front Line in Okinawa with Yaeyama Nippo

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"When politics is driven by an ideological opposition to the United States military bases, every action takes on a different meaning than intended. Everything backfires." This line comes from The Truth Behind the Collapse of All Okinawa (in Japanese), published last month by Sankei Shimbun Publications. The author, Makoto Nakashinjo, is the editorial chief of Yaeyama Nippo, a local newspaper in Okinawa Prefecture. His words struck me.

The book is a sweeping 10-year chronicle of the rise and fall of the "All Okinawa" movement. This is the group that backed former Governor Takeshi Onaga (deceased) and his successor, Denny Tamaki.

Nakashinjo, the book's author, wears many hats — reporter, editor, and sharp daily critic of the All Okinawa movement's prefectural politics. He's very much an all-around player. One might picture him as an ace reporter with a piercing glare. In reality, though, he is soft-spoken. His gentleness quietly conceals a journalist's discerning eye.

He was born on Ishigaki Island. While studying at the University of the Ryukyus, he dreamed of becoming a lawyer or civil servant. After graduation, he spent some time in Tokyo and Kanagawa. But in 1999, he returned to his hometown of Ishigaki and, responding to a job advertisement, joined Yaeyama Nippo.

There were three reporters, including a newcomer himself, Nakashinjo recounted. They wrote articles focused on "heartwarming remote island stories, such as the birth of a goat or an elementary school field day." Together, they filled all three pages of the paper, except for the "La Te" column, which covered radio and TV.

*Cover of The Truth Behind the Collapse of All Okinawa (Sankei Shimbun Publications).*

Confined to Criticizing the SDF

Yaeyama Nippo is widely recognized as a conservative, patriotic voice among Okinawan media outlets. Many other outlets lean revolutionary, often taking anti-base, anti-American, and anti-government stances. But when Nakashinjo joined the paper, the atmosphere was different.

"The local newspapers wrote things like, ''The whole island is in terror,' simply because a Maritime Self-Defense Force ship made a port call in Ishigaki," he said. "This was the kind of reporting ingrained at the time, and Yaeyama Nippo was no exception. There was pressure, both overt and subtle, and we could only write articles critical of the Self-Defense Forces."

In September 2010, the turning point came with the collision involving Chinese fishing boats near the Senkaku Islands. An administrative district of Ishigaki City, the Senkakus are border islands facing a serious crisis. "I decided to write articles that reflected the reality of the situation," he said.

Textbook Turmoil

Thereafter, in August 2011, the Yaeyama district's textbook selection committee, which includes Ishigaki City and the towns of Yonaguni and Taketomi, chose a civics textbook from the publisher Ikuhoshai. That textbook was edited with the goal of moving away from self-flagellating historical narratives.

An opposition movement quickly intensified. Among the three areas, Taketomi chose not to adopt the textbook. The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education proposed a consultation with all board members and called for a redo of the selection process, further fueling the turmoil.

"There was an atmosphere where it was impossible to say, 'That's not right,' in response to media criticism of the selection, so we had to hold back," Nakashinjo recalled. "That kind of atmosphere was felt throughout Okinawa as a whole."

It was then that Nakashinjo came across an article online in The Sankei Shimbun and "felt that it resonated with my views." He wanted to write articles grounded in realism rather than ideology. As a local journalist, he felt he "had to report what I saw on the ground as it truly was." It was then that his journalistic spirit was ignited.

*The Yaeyama Nippo stands out as a strong voice among Okinawa's predominantly pro-revolutionary media outlets. (©Sankei by Naoki Otake)*

At the time, Yaeyama Nippo was struggling with declining circulation and other challenges. However, former company president Kaoru Miyara launched a reform effort, focusing on amplifying conservative voices. As a result, the paper became a prominent media outlet in Okinawa, attracting attention from both the island and mainland Japan. Its web articles are now widely read.

Lone Wolf in the Okinawa Media Landscape

Nevertheless, the newspaper industry continues to face a tough environment, partly due to the ongoing recession in print media. The paper was in such a dire situation that it even considered ceasing publication in 2024.

Noboru Shimajiri, chairman of the board at JSL Japan Academy, a Japanese language school in Urasoe City, was the one who extended a helping hand.

In December 2024, Shimajiri became the company's owner. Ikue Miyazato, the principal of the same school, was appointed president. The Okinawa Main Island Branch Office opened in Urasoe City in April 2025.

Nakashinjo now spends half of each month working at the Okinawa Mainland Bureau. There, he actively reports on issues like the Washington Office opened by Okinawa Prefecture. While most local media have, for some reason, offered little coverage of the matter, Yaeyama Nippo has led the way in pursuing the truth more vigorously than any other outlet.

Governor Tamaki's Washington Office

Regarding the Washington Office issue, Nakashinjo stated that "various aspects of the All Okinawa structure have erupted at once." In a compelling observation, Nakashinjo added that the All Okinawa movement may have undermined Japan's security and diplomacy, while also impeding Okinawa's development and the livelihoods of its residents. The Washington Office issue stands as a clear example of how politics can backfire when it takes on an anti–base ideological stance.

Governor Tamaki has repeatedly invoked the "will of the people," using it as a shield to challenge judicial decisions. But why has the All Okinawa movement — once backed by a majority of Okinawans — lost that very "will" and appears to be "headed for collapse"?

The reasons are thoroughly detailed in The Truth Behind the Collapse of All Okinawa. It is a valuable reference for anyone considering the future of Japan's national security.

Nakashinjo, a native Okinawan, confronted the left-wing forces in the prefecture head-on. And through what was often a solitary battle, uncovered the "truth behind the collapse." I can only surmise the friction he must have faced, something a mainlander like myself could hardly grasp. I have deep respect for that kind of journalistic spirit.

The role of the Yaeyama Nippo, a trusted media outlet based in Ishigaki City, is crucial.

(Read the report in Japanese.)

Author: Naoki Otake, Naha Bureau Chief

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