Soul-Searching Necessary for U.S. and Japanese Governments in Wake of Maher’s Remarks

The director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Japan Affairs, Kevin Maher, made a string of derogatory remarks about the people of Okinawa, calling them “masters of manipulation and extortion” and “lazy.” We cannot help but feel deeply angry at hearing such bigoted and unforgivable remarks about the Okinawan people.

Maher made the troubling remarks during a lecture to a group of 14 students from American University as they prepared for a study trip to Okinawa. The remarks came to light through the students’ notes from the lecture.

Maher’s comments included, “Japanese culture is a culture of ‘wa’ [harmony] that is based on consensus. Consensus building is important in Japanese culture. While the Japanese would call this ‘consensus,’ they mean ‘extortion’ and use this culture of consensus as a means of extortion. … Okinawans are masters of manipulation and extortion of Tokyo.” He urged the students to mind the difference between “tatemae” [a person’s outward actions and words] and “honne” [a person’s true feelings]. His remark that, “Okinawans are too lazy to grow goya [Okinawan bitter melon]” shows nothing short of contempt for Okinawa.

Astonishingly, Maher was the consul general of Okinawa from 2006 to 2009, and he is very familiar with issues such as the relocation of [U.S. Marine Corps] Air Station Futenma. He also has experience as the National Security Council’s senior director for Asia. He is a key figure with vast experience in Japan policy, so it is shocking that he has such deeply unsympathetic and prejudiced notions of Okinawa.

Maher actually offended the residents of Okinawa while stationed there by saying, “Although Okinawans claim MCAS [Marine Corps Air Station] Futenma is the most dangerous base in the world, they know it is not true. Fukuoka Airport and Osaka Itami Airport are just as dangerous.” What did he see in his three years in Okinawa? We cannot hide our disappointment at knowing that someone with such prejudice continues to hold a post of such importance in the American government’s policy toward Japan.*

Naturally, Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima showed great displeasure at Maher’s remarks, and resolutions demanding a retraction and an apology were passed unanimously in the prefectural assembly as well the Naha and Nago city councils. The U.S. government needs to realize that such protests inevitably will spread throughout the entire country.

The U.S. government has chalked up the situation as a misunderstanding on the media’s part. They have apologized for the confusion and are trying to cool things down, but they cannot just say that this is Maher’s personal problem and leave it at that. There are glimpses in the U.S. government that they feel they still occupy Okinawa, which is why contempt for Okinawa infests its ranks.

The Japanese government’s indecisiveness towards the U.S. is regrettable. The Okinawan people were insulted horribly, and yet the Japanese government has failed to take a more resolute attitude in this matter. This can only be called neglect. They immediately should have summoned the U.S. ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and protested vigorously. However, they apparently only spoke on the phone, which is a disgraceful way to handle the situation. The most important thing they could do is to call firmly for Maher’s resignation and to urge the U.S. to reflect seriously.

*Editor’s note: The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo released a statement that Kevin Maher resigned from his post and was replaced by longtime diplomat Rust Deming after the original article was published.