Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga has decided to appoint 66-year-old Hideo Henzan the chief of a correspondent office he plans to launch in Washington D.C. Henzan was, until last September, a special advisor in charge of political affairs at the Naha Consulate General of the United States in Urasoe City,

Announcing the nomination, Onaga noted Henzan’s extensive contacts among officials in the U.S. Government along with his excellent English language and negotiation skills.  Onaga promised to set up the correspondent office in the U.S. during his gubernatorial election campaign last November. Onaga’s aim is to increase the understanding of the burden of U.S. military bases on Okinawa among American policy makers, and develop channels to negotiate with the U.S. Government officials directly in addition to the Japanese Government regarding his push for the two governments to give up the plan of constructing the new base in Henoko.

Henzan served eleven U.S. consul generals in Okinawa during his 29 years as the special advisor.  Henzas said, “I will be happy to accept any position for the benefit of Okinawa. I really understand my responsibility of presenting the voice of both Governor Onaga and people of Okinawa to the U.S. Government.”

Henzan was born in Izumi, in Motobu Town in 1948, and graduated from the Department of English Language in the University of the Ryukyus, and further studied at the Lincoln University and the University of California in San Francisco.

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