Henoko Non-Violent Action

Na mu Myo ho Ren Ge Kyo Unconscious colonialism and structural discrimination Japan's westernmost monument Every year, I walk around Okinawa Island (the main island), the only place in Japan where ground wars took place, in preparation for the Okinawa War Memorial Day. However, this year I decided to walk around Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni. The reason is that since 2016, militarization has been prominent on these three islands due to anti-China sentiment, and plans are now underway to evacuate the entire island population. It is said that the current situation in Okinawa is similar to the eve of the Battle of Okinawa. During this march, I interacted with and listened to nearly 30 local people. I was able to hear the "real voices" of the people of Miyako and Yaeyama, and get to know Japan from their perspective. By "relatively" comparing Japan and Okinawa, I was able to realize that the military buildup that is taking place in Miyako and Yaeyama against the wi...

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo 14 years have passed. I was 27 years old and now I am 41.   Since 2013, I have been walking in Fukushima every year around March. The coastal areas that were hit hard by the tsunami, and the shopping streets and residential areas that were turned into ghost towns due to high levels of radiation, have been demolished and new buildings have been built, making it impossible to remember the scenery as it was before. I cannot imagine the sense of loss for those who used to call this place their hometown. On the other hand, the streetscape of my hometown, Koganei, where I lived until I was 18, is changing rapidly, and I often find myself thinking, "Huh? What was there before here?" It makes me realize that human memories are fleeting. For the past few years, the question "Why do I walk through Fukushima every year?" has been repeated in my head many times, with no answer. If I were to write down the reason, the only word that comes to mind is "re...