Fantastic Okinawa Henoko base construction Hanta Path offers walk through Okinawan history Okinawa’s budget slashed, but Henoko continues T he central government in Tokyo has been sending not-quite-so-sub- tle signals to Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, who’s only been in office a month, letting him know that oppo- sition to the national government programs and plans for relocating Futenma Marine Corps Air Station from Ginowan City to northern Okinawa will come at a cost. Onaga’s opposed to the base reloca- tion to the sparsely populated Henoko dis- trict of Nago City, and has vowed to find a way to reverse approvals that have initial land reclamation and plans for the new air- base well under way, thanks to approvals by former governor Hirokazu Nakaima. That’s not sitting well with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, which several weeks ago refused to even see Governor Onaga when he was making calls in Tokyo. Now, Abe’s team is sending another warning; oppose us and your funding for economic promotion of Okinawa will be diminished. Reports from Tokyo earlier this week are calling for a reduction from ¥350.1 billion for the upcoming fiscal year promised to Governor Nakaima, and a ¥40 billion decrease to just over ¥310 billion. Within the prime minister’s inner cir- cle, there’s not unanimity on how to handle the Okinawa opposition. Some re saying it is necessary to get Okinawa’s attention, rewarding good conduct and punishing bad conduct. Others, however, think it is tact- less, or in poor taste, to slash budget num- bers previously promised. The State Minister for Okinawa and the Northern Territories Affairs, Shunichi Yamaguchi, told reporters he thought it’s wrong to cut Okinawa’s funding. In fact, he’s asked the Finance Minister, Taro Aso, limit budget cuts to a “mild” level. “It’s not right to reduce what’s neces- sary for Okinawa,” he said. At the same time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga reiterated there’s no chance of the Futenma airfield relocation project being stopped. “The former Okinawa prefectural administration approved the plan, and there are no problems with carrying out the work,” Suga told a satellite television pro- gram. What will not change, the Chief Cabinet Secretary promised, is support for construction of a second runway at Naha International Airport. The current year national budget includes ¥33 billion for the airport expansion. By Jun Ikemura H anta Path was once a part of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s main road connecting Katsuren Castle, now part of modern day Uruma City, with Shuri Castle, the seat of the government, through Nakagusuku Castle in Nakagusuku village, and Kochi Castle in Nishihara. The Hanta Path is easily accessible by car, after which a relaxing walk provides opportunities to contemplate Okinawan history. According to undocumented history, the road was constructed gradually during the 12th through 15th centuries, serving as the area’s principal road on the west side of Okinawa Island. Many historical assets still remain along the road, but unfortunately, the path is so long and hard to clean throughout the year, meaning some parts of it are covered with bush at least during some parts of the season. Because of that, there is the possibility of an encounter with a habu snake, especially in summer time. As visitors walk this historical path, they’re encouraged to walk carefully and avoid going into the brush. The middle Ryukyu main road was from Katsuren to Shuri in ancient times, but it is still open for walks through the Nakagusuku part. It is called Hanta Path, and its starting point is at San-A Nakagusuku Branch, and ending at Nakagusuku Castle ruins. Hanta means cliff in Okinawan dialect, and visi- tors quickly find why they call the path cliff street when walk- ing the path. Although only one part of the ancient road, the existing Hanta Path is about seven kilometers long, and there are some long and steep stairs along the way, making it not so easy for people with physical limitations. If visitors park their cars at the starting or end point and walk the path, they must return the same way, unless someone agrees to move your car. The stroll provides a real feel of the Ryukyu era along the path, and it is easy to imagine ancestors who used to walk this path. There are a couple of ancient assets here, and caretak- ers hope visitors will enjoy the Hanta path in Nakagusuku village. First, there is Agai Tida bridge: it is located just behind the San-A Nakagusuku branch and from there it is easy to see the Nakagusuku Village and Nakagusuku Bay. Along the way is Arakaki stone bridge, a stone bridge in Arakaki district in Nakagusuku. It is also a part of Hanta path. There were more bridges in that area before war, but others were destroyed and now just one bridge remains. Tsunmaasu is the ancient rotary circle. A pine tree is planted at the center of the circle. Another popular photo site is Perry's Banner Rock: When Commodore Matthew Perry's party explored the island’s east coast during his historical visit in 1853, they walked through the Hanta Path. Taking a rest under this rock, and the view was amazing, they placed the American flag on the top of the rock and named it the “Banner Rock”. When Commodore Matthew Perry and his entourage took a rest by this rock during his visit in 1853, they hoisted the American flag on top of it, and the site has been known ever since as "Perry's Banner Rock." The Path winds through a landscape of sugar fields. Only one of the stone bridges along the Hanta Path remains, the rest were destroyed in the war. Jan. 15, 2015 - Jan. 21, 2015 www.japanupdate.com ¥150 Fantastic Okinawa Local News Classifieds Okinawan Culture Weather JU Weekly Raffle Events this week English Lesson Horoscope Recipe