Key Facts
• June 2024: Security guard dies in Henoko dump truck accident during protest.
• August 21, 2025: Governor Denny Tamaki refuses to view accident footage.
• Defense Bureau claims footage is “nonexistent,” Governor agrees no need to confirm.
• October 2024: Most committee members reviewed footage, excluding five “All Okinawa” members.
• Governor cites footage as part of investigation, prefers to monitor its progress.
• Guardrail installation at accident site repeatedly denied by Okinawa Prefecture.
• January 2025: Orange rubber poles installed, criticized by Defense Bureau as ineffective.
• Governor emphasizes legal compliance and accident prevention with rubber poles.
• Protest activities at the site continue, raising safety concerns.
Summary
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has declined to view footage of a June 2024 dump truck accident in Henoko, citing the Defense Bureau’s claim that the footage is “nonexistent.” The accident, which occurred during protests against the relocation of the U.S. Futenma Air Base, resulted in the death of a security guard. While most committee members reviewed the footage in October 2024, Tamaki stated it is part of an ongoing investigation. The prefecture has also refused requests to install guardrails at the accident site, opting instead for orange rubber poles in January 2025, which the Defense Bureau criticized as inadequate. Protests at the site persist, raising safety concerns.
