Denny Tamaki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denny Tamaki
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玉城 デニー
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Official portrait
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| Governor of Okinawa Prefecture | |
| Assumed office 4 October 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Takeshi Onaga Kiichiro Jahana (interim) Moritake Tomikawa (interim) |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 30 August 2009 – 13 September 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Chiken Kakazu |
| Succeeded by | Tomohiro Yara |
| Constituency | Okinawa 3rd (2009–2012; 2014–2018) Kyushu PR (2012–2014) |
| Member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly | |
| In office 28 September 2002 – August 2005 |
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| Constituency | Okinawa City |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dennis Tamaki
13 October 1959 Yonashiro, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands |
| Political party | Independent (2002–2005; 2018–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Alma mater | Sophia School of Social Welfare |
| Website | Official website: http://www.d21tamaki.com/ |
Denny Tamaki (born October 13, 1959) is a Japanese politician. He has been the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture since 2018. Tamaki was a member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly for Okinawa City from 2002 to 2005. He then became the first person of mixed Japanese and American heritage to be a member of the Japanese House of Representatives. He represented Okinawa Prefecture's 3rd district from 2009 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2018. Tamaki was elected governor as an independent in 2018. This happened after the death of the previous governor, Takeshi Onaga. He was re-elected for another term in 2022.
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Denny Tamaki's Early Life
Denny Tamaki was born Dennis Tamaki on October 13, 1959. He was born in Yonashiro, Okinawa, which is now part of Uruma. At that time, Okinawa was under American control. His mother was Okinawan, and his father was an American Marine. His father left Okinawa before Denny was born.
When he was 10, Tamaki changed his legal name to Yasuhiro Tamaki. "Denny" was a nickname he had since childhood. He never met his father. His mother raised him alone and destroyed most things related to his father. Tamaki tried to find his father but was not successful. He often says that his own background shows the unique situation of Okinawa. Okinawa hosts many United States military personnel.
After finishing high school, Tamaki left Okinawa to study at a trade school in Tokyo. He later returned to Okinawa. For several years, he worked as a radio disc jockey.
Denny Tamaki's Political Journey
Tamaki started his political career as a member of the Okinawa City Council. He served there from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives. He aimed to represent the Okinawa 3rd district. However, he lost that election.
He ran again in the 2009 general election. This time, he won the 3rd district seat. After joining the Diet (Japan's parliament), Tamaki worked on important committees. He was part of the committee for National Security. He also directed the Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs.
In 2012, Tamaki disagreed with a proposed tax increase. Because of this, he left the Democratic Party of Japan. He lost his Okinawa 3rd district seat in the 2012 election. However, he kept a seat in the Kyushu proportional representation block. This means he was elected based on his party's overall votes, not just his local district. He regained his 3rd district seat in the 2014 election. He won by a large margin.
In August 2018, the Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, passed away. Before his death, Governor Onaga suggested Tamaki as a possible successor. Tamaki then ran in the 2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election. He won with 55% of the votes. He defeated Atsushi Sakima, who was supported by a major national party. Many important national politicians came to Okinawa to support Sakima.
On September 11, 2022, Tamaki was re-elected as governor. He won another four-year term, defeating Sakima a second time.
What Denny Tamaki Believes In
Denny Tamaki has often spoken about the U.S. military presence on Okinawa. He believes there should be fewer American troops on the island. In 2009, he said that the Japanese government should let Okinawa return to its "original self." He also said Okinawa's economy should rely less on military bases.
This belief was a main part of his 2018 campaign for governor. He argued against moving the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to another location on Okinawa. This was a position shared by the late Governor Onaga. Moving the base was a very important issue for voters in the 2018 election.
In June 2019, Tamaki made a comment about Chinese patrols near the Senkaku islands. These islands are part of Okinawa Prefecture. His comment caused some questions about his views on the islands. Tamaki later clarified his statement, saying he was misunderstood. He confirmed that he believes the islands are Japanese territory.
In 2020, there was a COVID-19 outbreak at U.S. military bases in Okinawa. Tamaki criticized the American military's handling of the situation. He expressed concern about the bases' ability to stop the virus from spreading. He mentioned possible causes, like military parties off-base.
Denny Tamaki's Personal Life
Denny Tamaki is married and has two sons and two daughters. He enjoys singing and playing the guitar. He has also written songs for the Rinken Band, a famous Okinawan music group.
See also
In Spanish: Denny Tamaki para niños
