Myth, Protest and Struggle in Okinawa

Kin Bay and Shiraho 131
one of the Gulf facilities, more than 190 tons of crude oil leaked and polluted
the entire Kin Bay area, killing white squid, shellfish, and other local fish, and
threatening people who lived by fishing (Yoshida et al. 1975: 5). In the Kin Bay
area, the pro-industry local political leaders clashed with the residents’ opposition
groups, especially those who were reliant on fishing.
In the same month, residents of Miyagi Island (Map 8.1) formed the Miyagi
Island Land Protection Society (Miyagijima Tochi o Mamoru Kai), and successfully
fended off Arabia Sekiyu’s (Arabia Oil) CTS construction, despite the approval of
the Miyagi Island’s economic development committee. 8
Subsequently, the nearby Yonagusuku Village Council supported the landfill
plan of the CTS construction by Mitsubishi Kaihatsu. In September 1972, the Yara
prefecture government authorized Mitsubishi’s land reclamation of 640,000 tsubo
(2.1 million square metres) between Henza and Miyagi islands. The landfill work
started the following month.
In September 1973, the anti-CTS local residents of a mostly fishing population
formed the Kin Bay Protection Society (Kinwan o Mamoru Kai). The Kin Bay
Protection Society repeatedly visited the prefecture government and Mitsubishi,
demanding a stop to the landfill work, and protesting against the CTS construction
in the area. In September 1974, six fishing villagers in Teruma District and the
Kin Bay Protection Society brought the case to the Naha District Court, claiming
that the Okinawa prefecture government’s authorization of the land reclamation
project was illegal.
Ironically, the defendant in the case was the progressive Yara prefecture
government whom the plaintiff had politically supported. The progressive political
parties and unions constituted Governor Yara’s support base, his platform stressed
‘anti-militarism and peace in Okinawa’. However, after the reversion, those who
regarded the introduction of polluting industries as a new form of colonization of
Okinawa by mainland Japan grew critical of the Yara administration. The member
organizations of the progressive parties and unions that supported the Yara government,
such as the Prefecture Workers’ Union (Kenshokurō), Okinawa Prefectural
Labour Union Committee (Kenrōkyō), and the High School Teachers’ Union
(Kōkyōso) all expressed their opposition to the CTS construction (Yara 1985: 270).
Yara took this seriously and announced on 19 January 1974 his intention not
to authorize petroleum industries’ quotas for CTS construction (Yara 1985: 278),
as well as requesting Mitsubishi to introduce industries other than CTS on the
reclaimed land. In this ‘1.19 statement’, Yara emphasized the need for an
accommodation of the popular feeling against environmental destruction (Yara
1985: 275).
In May, Mitsubishi completed the land reclamation, and requested the local
government to authorize the CTS construction. The Kin Bay Protection Group
members, banding together in a group of 40–50, frequently demanded direct
negotiation with Yara, pressuring him to refuse Mitsubishi’s application immediately.
A group of attorneys, who associated themselves with the ‘progressive’
political camp and called themselves the Progressive Attorneys’ Organization
(Kakushin Bengodan), submitted to Yara an opinion statement that demanded