By Yoko Shima
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi serving as an instructor on Shimpo Women’s Salon. She spoke about her experience traveling to Africa, Iraq and Afganistan as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF at the Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Izumizaki, Naha City in 2004.
Recently, the Ryukyu Shimpo interviewed Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, 83, who serves as a female Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund), and she told us about her concern for Okinawa and the importance of peace. Regarding the planned construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago City, which is being pushed forward by the Japanese government in conjunction with the planned return of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Kuroyanagi prefaced her statement by saying that Okinawa’s problems are difficult, then said, “I think the opinions of the people who live there should be respected. If people in Okinawa are saying they do not want it, it should not be built.”
Kuroyanagi said she is aware that Okinawans expressed their opposition to the construction of a new base in Henoko in the Okinawa gubernatorial election, Nago mayoral election, and various other elections, and said, “I think the opinions of the people who live there should be respected. No matter what happens. If people in Okinawa are all saying they do not want it, it should not be built.”
“If such a beautiful ocean is harmed, I feel sorry for the dugong. If there is an option [of not building the base], it wouldn’t have to happen,” said Kuroyanagi.
Regarding constitutional revision, Kuroyanagi said, “I’m worried about the movement to change the constitution, which positions Japan as a country that absolutely does not engage in war and takes pride in that stance.” In particular, regarding Article 9, she spoke passionately, saying, “The peace constitution absolutely should not be changed. Three million people died in the last war we fought. That included young people with futures ahead of them.”
Kuroyanagi also talked about her experience in her later years of elementary school of the Tokyo firebombing and evacuating to Aomori. “There was nothing to eat and I lost weight because of malnutrition, and I got a rash all over my body. It was from protein deficiency. When I travel around the world for UNICEF activities I see many malnourished children. My own experience is one of the reasons I became a Goodwill Ambassador,” said Kuroyanagi. “I hope to be a Goodwill Ambassador until I am 100 years old.”
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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Tetsuko Kuroyanagi says residents’ opinions should be respected in Henoko, Article 9 should not be changed
January 3, 2017 Ryukyu ShimpoBy Yoko Shima
黒柳さん「辺野古、住民意見尊重を」 ９条「変えてはいけない」
2017年1月3日 08:30
新報女性サロンの講師を務めた黒柳徹子さん。ユニセフ親善大使として訪れたアフリカやイラク、アフガニスタンでの経験を語った ＝２００４年、那覇市泉崎の琉球新報ホール
女優でユニセフ（国連児童基金）親善大使を務める黒柳徹子さん（８３）がこのほど、琉球新報のインタビューに応じ、沖縄への思いや平和の大切さについて語った。米軍普天間飛行場の返還に伴い政府が建設を強行する名護市辺野古の新基地建設について「沖縄の問題は難しい」と前置きしつつ、「住んでいる人たちの意見を尊重すべきだと思う。沖縄の方が嫌と言っているなら造るべきじゃない」と述べた。
辺野古新基地建設について、県知事選や名護市長選などの選挙で反対の民意が示されたことを「知っている」と述べた上で「私は、住んでいる人たちの意見を尊重すべきだと思う。どんなことがあってもね。沖縄の方はみんな嫌だって言っているなら造るべきじゃない」と述べた。
「あんなきれいな海が荒らされていくのは、ジュゴンだってかわいそう。（建設）しないで済むなら、こんないいことはない」とも述べた。
憲法改定については「絶対戦争はしない国とし、それを誇りとしている憲法を変えようという動きは心配している」と述べた。特に憲法９条について「平和憲法を変えることは絶対してはいけない。先の戦争で３００万人もの人が死んだ。将来ある若い人たちも」と力を込めた。
黒柳さんは小学校高学年で体験した東京大空襲や青森に疎開した経験を語り、「食べる物がなくて栄養失調で痩せて、体中におできができた。タンパク質の不足だった。ユニセフの活動で世界を回ると栄養失調になっている子どもたちがいる。親善大使になったのも自分がそんな経験をしたからだ」と述べ、「１００歳まで親善大使を続けたい」と話した。
（島洋子）
英文へ→Tetsuko Kuroyanagi says residents’ opinions should be respected in Henoko, Article 9 should not be changed
