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Remarks by C.G. Kamo at the Okinawa Center Reception for Scholarship Students from Okinawa and WUB meeting participants from overseas

October 17, 2010

Thank you for having me here this evening. I am most grateful to Dr. Charles Morrison for giving me a chance to welcome our young students from Okinawa to the East West Center.

This is a very special occasion to me in two reasons. Last year I came to Honolulu and began operating as Japan’s Consul General. The East West Center was so kind to invite me to the last year’s reception for the visiting students from Okinawa. That was sort of my first official engagement. At the reception, to my unexpected bewilderment, I was recognized as Japan’s consul, so I had to speak up for introducing myself and tried to give some nice words to the scholarship students. The second reason why I am a bit nervous and hesitant to speak this time is that I am now being joined by my wife and daughter. You know I feel as if I were standing before the most tough and nasty examiners.

Well, Okinawa is a key word to understand Japan’s overseas engagements. The Senkaku Islands are located not very far from Okinawa. The Futenma airfield relocation issue is still there in Okinawa to be resolved between the U.S. and Japan. The two female golfers with the same sir name of Miyasato come from Okinawa, of course. Japanese immigration to Hawaii began 1885. Immigration from the Okinawa Islands started after 1900, soon it became a mainstream. Okinawan immigrants are flourishing as an indispensable ingredient to Hawaii’s cultural diversity. Their Okinawa Festival is one of the biggest and most successful events in Hawaii over the years where they assert their culture and heritage. Okinawans have been active in seeking their opportunities and trying their fortune overseas. They are visible almost everywhere in the world. Their challenging spirit is outstanding among Japanese. Some of you are aware that there is a popular TV series called “Uchinanchu Kikou” in Hawaii. Although this program was originally filmed some 20 years ago, it is still being broadcasted on a local TV station. The program features overseas Okinawans who have been successful in their own fields. It is amazing to find out that Okinawas are everywhere in the world. They are truly a leader of internationalization among Japanese. 

Okinawa is leading the development of a new area of cooperation between the U.S. and Japan, too. The Hawaii-Okinawa Cooperation on green energy has been launched in the hope of collaborating with a renewable energy field in both regions. It is our hope that APEC2011 will become a showcase for the cooperation.

The East West Center works very hard to support Okinawans in their endeavors to deepen their internationalism. I would offer my sincere appreciation for their invaluable contribution to that end. The Obuchi Scholarship is one of them. They host the Okinawa Center in Hawaii in collaboration with the University of Hawaii. Robert Nakasone is instrumental in bridging Okinawa and Hawaii through his dedication and commitment.

After all, Hawaii is a good place for Okinawans of any category would meet and learn from each other. It is my hope that Okinawa and Hawaii will go hand in hand in deepening their relationship of friendship and cooperation for years to come.

Thank you.