James Matayoshi

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James Matayoshi (born 1969) is the mayor of Rongelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He was appointed as Rongelap's mayor in 1995[1] and has served as chairman of the Marshall Islands Ports Authority since 2008.[2] As the mayor of Rongelap, Matayoshi was noted for his activism on calling for the United States government to render assistance to Marshall Islanders suffering from radiation sickness as a result of a series of nuclear tests carried out under Operation Castle in the 1950s.[3]

Early life and education

Matayoshi was born in Kwajalein. His father, Woodrow Matayoshi,[4] was a second-generation Japanese American from Hawaii, whose parents were immigrants from Okinawa. Matayoshi's mother, Almira Ainri, was a Marshallese from Rongelap and was an activist on issues pertaining to nuclear warfare[1] until her death in June 2005. In her youth, Ainri was exposed to radioactive fallouts from the nuclear bomb tests,[5] which left her with thyroid problems for the rest of her life. Two of Matayoshi's older siblings, Robert and Alex also suffered from thyroid problems as a result of the nuclear bomb tests. Ainri also suffered a miscarriage in 1955 which resulted in a stillborn child without a skeleton.[6] In his youth, Matayoshi was educated in Hawaii, but returned to the Marshall Islands and was elected as Rongelap's mayor in 1995.[1]

Political career

Since his appointment as the Mayor of Rongelap, Matayoshi campaigned vigorously for anti-nuclear causes and often attended memorial events pertaining to nuclear warfare in Japan as well as the Marshall Islands.[7][8] Between 2005 to 2007, Matayoshi led lobbies against the Nuclear Claims Tribunal to provide monetary compensation to victims of nuclear bombs testings,[9][10] which were targeted to be used for reconstruction efforts and facilitating resettlement in Rongelap.[11] Japan also provided resettlement funds to Rongelap to 2005, which was motivated in part to Matayoshi's ancestral and diplomatic ties that he established with Japan.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mayor wants to develop economy for Rongelap, July 7, 2005, Kyodo News Agency
  2. ↑ James heads Ports board, March 28, 2008, Marshall Islands Journal
  3. ↑ Nuclear Awareness Conference, April 23, 2008, University of Alaska
  4. ↑ Parks Air Force Base Pleasanton, California June 26 to August, 1956, commemorative page by F. Sheff, retrieved October 17, 2009
  5. ↑ Interview with Almira Matayoshi, Nuclear Free News, retrieved October 19, 2009
  6. ↑ Diary 07-06-05, Honolulu Weekly
  7. ↑ James Matayoshi, Global Hibakusha, 1997
  8. ↑ Remarks of Rongelap Mayor James Matayoshi Bravo Day, March 1, 2004, Marshall Islands, Yokwe Online
  9. ↑ James Calls for Civilized Solution From the Marshall Islands Journal Friday, March 4, 2005
  10. ↑ Pacific Nuclear Victims Awarded One Billion Dollars, Giff Johnson, April 19, 2007
  11. ↑ U.S. REBUFFS RONGELAP LANDOWNERS, CUTS FUNDS, June 18, 2007, Giff Johnson, Pacific Islands Report
  12. ↑ Rongelap Resettlement Moves Ahead with Piggery Farm and Housing Projects, April 3, 2005, Yokwe Online
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