Meet the ‘rough country boy’ standing up to US base plans in Japan

Deep-seated opposition to a US military presence in Okinawa, growing in lockstep with plans to expand Camp Schwab, is led by a man who has proven he will give up freedom to fight what he sees as oppression

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Hiroji Yamashiro rallying protesters outside the US military’s Camp Schwab in Nago, Okinawa. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 10:17am, 1 Jan 2018Updated: 1:14pm, 1 Jan 2018

Hiroji Yamashiro describes himself as a “rough country boy from Okinawa” and does not seem the type who might be given to overt displays of emotion.

June 23, however, marked the 72nd anniversary of the end of the fighting on Okinawa and even now – more than six months later – it is clear he is furious about Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decision to attend an event commemorating the battle of Okinawa in the prefecture.

“I was completely against his presence at the event because of his belligerence and his movement towards a state of war,” Yamashiro says, his fists clenched.

The US military’s Camp Schwab on the Henoko coastal area of Nago, Okinawa. Photo: Kyodo

“There is no way that I could condone his participation, and his comments on how he wants to reduce the burden of the US military bases in Okinawa are just words.

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“If he actually meant what he said, then we would have seen some concrete actions. Instead, this is a government that promotes violence and oppression of peaceful protesters and until I see genuine action, then it is impossible to accept his words.”