Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
@jonmitchell.bsky.social
Author, investigative journalist with Okinawa Times. "Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence" (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026). 沖縄タイムス特約通信員。米国環境ジャーナリスト協会 出版賞。石橋湛山記念 早稲田ジャーナリズム大賞。著書「『情報自由法』で社会を変える！」岩波書店, etc https://www.jonmitchellinjapan.com
Pinned
Yesterday, my publisher @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social revealed the cover for my new book, "Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence." Feeling super honoured that artist, Yuken Teruya, designed an obi wrap for it. Release date set for February 2026!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...
www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...
My latest article for @okinawatimes.co.jp explores how US military histories of Okinawa are riddled with serious errors and omissions - and how these might be amplified by AI-generated search overviews.
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
Okinawa means “big or long rope” and Commodore Perry “landed in Naha in 1851” – US military histories rife with errors and omissions | Jon Mitchell Investigates | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス
Online explanations of Okinawa’s history, produced by the US military to teach service members about the islands, are riddled with factual errors, exaggerate the benefits of US administration (1945–72...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp
November 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
My latest article for @okinawatimes.co.jp explores how US military histories of Okinawa are riddled with serious errors and omissions - and how these might be amplified by AI-generated search overviews.
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
I was in my 30s before I found out that the Young Lords also did this kind of activism, including addressing lead poisoning issues in children at a time when officials were failing to act: www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/h...
Help Save Your Children | Johanna Fernández
On the Young Lords’ battle against lead poisoning in New York.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I was in my 30s before I found out that the Young Lords also did this kind of activism, including addressing lead poisoning issues in children at a time when officials were failing to act: www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/h...
"I have the right to know the contamination status of my own land."
The English version of my latest article about the environmental impact of military operations in Okinawa is now online at @okinawatimes.co.jp.
Please take a look.
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
The English version of my latest article about the environmental impact of military operations in Okinawa is now online at @okinawatimes.co.jp.
Please take a look.
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
US Army: 2017 helicopter crash at northern Okinawa farm contaminated soil with radioactive, other hazardous substances | Jon Mitchell Investigates | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス
On 11 October 2017, a US Marine Corps CH-53E helicopter made an emergency landing and caught fire at a farm in Higashi Village, Okinawa Prefecture. Three days later, the US military announced “radioac...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp
October 28, 2025 at 11:32 PM
"I have the right to know the contamination status of my own land."
The English version of my latest article about the environmental impact of military operations in Okinawa is now online at @okinawatimes.co.jp.
Please take a look.
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
The English version of my latest article about the environmental impact of military operations in Okinawa is now online at @okinawatimes.co.jp.
Please take a look.
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
How is US activity in Okinawa documented & can it be accessed? Okinawa Times Correspondent Jon Mitchell shares his experiences/methods in "Documenting US Operations in Okinawa: The Jon Mitchell Collection at Okinawa International University & Beyond" #NCCSpotlight guides.nccjapan.org/homepage/new...
October 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
How is US activity in Okinawa documented & can it be accessed? Okinawa Times Correspondent Jon Mitchell shares his experiences/methods in "Documenting US Operations in Okinawa: The Jon Mitchell Collection at Okinawa International University & Beyond" #NCCSpotlight guides.nccjapan.org/homepage/new...
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
Thrilled to announce the publication of my article "The Invention of the Kamikaze: Dissent and Resistance in the Japanese Military" in the October issue of the Journal of Military History!
October 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Thrilled to announce the publication of my article "The Invention of the Kamikaze: Dissent and Resistance in the Japanese Military" in the October issue of the Journal of Military History!
Yesterday, my publisher @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social revealed the cover for my new book, "Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence." Feeling super honoured that artist, Yuken Teruya, designed an obi wrap for it. Release date set for February 2026!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...
www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...
October 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Yesterday, my publisher @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social revealed the cover for my new book, "Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence." Feeling super honoured that artist, Yuken Teruya, designed an obi wrap for it. Release date set for February 2026!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...
www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-w...
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
2/2
よそ3〜8世紀頃に分岐という学説が、世界では定説です。
It is the established view worldwide that Japanese and the Ryukyuan languages diverged from a parent language around the 3rd to 8th centuries.
よそ3〜8世紀頃に分岐という学説が、世界では定説です。
It is the established view worldwide that Japanese and the Ryukyuan languages diverged from a parent language around the 3rd to 8th centuries.
September 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
2/2
よそ3〜8世紀頃に分岐という学説が、世界では定説です。
It is the established view worldwide that Japanese and the Ryukyuan languages diverged from a parent language around the 3rd to 8th centuries.
よそ3〜8世紀頃に分岐という学説が、世界では定説です。
It is the established view worldwide that Japanese and the Ryukyuan languages diverged from a parent language around the 3rd to 8th centuries.
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
1/2
うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)は方言ではなく「言語」やいびーん(です)！
Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan) is not a dialect but a language!
うちなーぐちを含む琉球諸島の言葉「琉球諸語」は日本語の方言ではなく、日本語とは姉妹言語です。
The languages of the Ryukyu Islands, including Uchinaaguchi, are not dialects of Japanese but sister languages of Japanese.
日本語と琉球諸語は元は一つの「祖語」から、お
→
うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)は方言ではなく「言語」やいびーん(です)！
Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan) is not a dialect but a language!
うちなーぐちを含む琉球諸島の言葉「琉球諸語」は日本語の方言ではなく、日本語とは姉妹言語です。
The languages of the Ryukyu Islands, including Uchinaaguchi, are not dialects of Japanese but sister languages of Japanese.
日本語と琉球諸語は元は一つの「祖語」から、お
→
September 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
1/2
うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)は方言ではなく「言語」やいびーん(です)！
Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan) is not a dialect but a language!
うちなーぐちを含む琉球諸島の言葉「琉球諸語」は日本語の方言ではなく、日本語とは姉妹言語です。
The languages of the Ryukyu Islands, including Uchinaaguchi, are not dialects of Japanese but sister languages of Japanese.
日本語と琉球諸語は元は一つの「祖語」から、お
→
うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)は方言ではなく「言語」やいびーん(です)！
Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan) is not a dialect but a language!
うちなーぐちを含む琉球諸島の言葉「琉球諸語」は日本語の方言ではなく、日本語とは姉妹言語です。
The languages of the Ryukyu Islands, including Uchinaaguchi, are not dialects of Japanese but sister languages of Japanese.
日本語と琉球諸語は元は一つの「祖語」から、お
→
Much-needed break from book editing = sunset run along Tokyo’s Tama River. (Finally sounds/smells of an end to summer’s heat).
September 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Much-needed break from book editing = sunset run along Tokyo’s Tama River. (Finally sounds/smells of an end to summer’s heat).
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
Pre-reversion Okinawa was major hub for CIA airlines’ anti-communist – and commercial – operations
Pre-reversion Okinawa was major hub for CIA airlines’ anti-communist – and commercial – operations
2025年09月05日 17時08分
www.okinawatimes.co.jp
September 5, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Pre-reversion Okinawa was major hub for CIA airlines’ anti-communist – and commercial – operations
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
うちなーんちゅの皆様、もうすぐ御精霊(うそーろー。旧盆)やいびーん(です)。
心から手を合わせれば言葉は関係ないと思います。
しかし、うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)で仏壇などへ「我達(私達)家内(ちねー。家族)見守(みーまん)てぃ呉みそーち、御拝(にふぇー)でーびる」と言えると、もっと先祖の方々と繋がることができるかも知れません。
うちなーぐち習てぃ見(んー)じゃびらに(おきなわ語を学んで見ませんか)。
心から手を合わせれば言葉は関係ないと思います。
しかし、うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)で仏壇などへ「我達(私達)家内(ちねー。家族)見守(みーまん)てぃ呉みそーち、御拝(にふぇー)でーびる」と言えると、もっと先祖の方々と繋がることができるかも知れません。
うちなーぐち習てぃ見(んー)じゃびらに(おきなわ語を学んで見ませんか)。
August 30, 2025 at 2:39 AM
うちなーんちゅの皆様、もうすぐ御精霊(うそーろー。旧盆)やいびーん(です)。
心から手を合わせれば言葉は関係ないと思います。
しかし、うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)で仏壇などへ「我達(私達)家内(ちねー。家族)見守(みーまん)てぃ呉みそーち、御拝(にふぇー)でーびる」と言えると、もっと先祖の方々と繋がることができるかも知れません。
うちなーぐち習てぃ見(んー)じゃびらに(おきなわ語を学んで見ませんか)。
心から手を合わせれば言葉は関係ないと思います。
しかし、うちなーぐち(おきなわ語)で仏壇などへ「我達(私達)家内(ちねー。家族)見守(みーまん)てぃ呉みそーち、御拝(にふぇー)でーびる」と言えると、もっと先祖の方々と繋がることができるかも知れません。
うちなーぐち習てぃ見(んー)じゃびらに(おきなわ語を学んで見ませんか)。
Huge congratulations to Okinawa Shogaku for taking first place in the summer high school baseball tournament!!!
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
【速報】沖縄尚学、夏の甲子園V 日大三に3―1 県勢15年ぶり | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス
【甲子園取材班】第１０７回全国高校野球選手権大会最終日は２３日、甲子園球場で決勝を行い、沖縄尚学は日大三（西東京）を３―１で退け、夏の大会初の優勝を果たした。
www.okinawatimes.co.jp
August 23, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Huge congratulations to Okinawa Shogaku for taking first place in the summer high school baseball tournament!!!
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
The calm pace of our livestreamed microfiche scanning may not show the scope of the work, so here’s a time-lapse revealing how many pages we can digitize in just one hour.
📡 Watch the real-time stream ⤵️
www.youtube.com/live/aPg2V5R...
#Preservation #Digitization #InternetArchive
📡 Watch the real-time stream ⤵️
www.youtube.com/live/aPg2V5R...
#Preservation #Digitization #InternetArchive
August 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The calm pace of our livestreamed microfiche scanning may not show the scope of the work, so here’s a time-lapse revealing how many pages we can digitize in just one hour.
📡 Watch the real-time stream ⤵️
www.youtube.com/live/aPg2V5R...
#Preservation #Digitization #InternetArchive
📡 Watch the real-time stream ⤵️
www.youtube.com/live/aPg2V5R...
#Preservation #Digitization #InternetArchive
The Memorial to Fallen Journalists (戦没新聞人の碑) in Naha.
Around the anniversary of WW2’s end, Okinawan media workers gather here to pledge not to glorify militarism or romanticize state violence.
「戦争のために二度とペンは取らない」
Around the anniversary of WW2’s end, Okinawan media workers gather here to pledge not to glorify militarism or romanticize state violence.
「戦争のために二度とペンは取らない」
August 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The Memorial to Fallen Journalists (戦没新聞人の碑) in Naha.
Around the anniversary of WW2’s end, Okinawan media workers gather here to pledge not to glorify militarism or romanticize state violence.
「戦争のために二度とペンは取らない」
Around the anniversary of WW2’s end, Okinawan media workers gather here to pledge not to glorify militarism or romanticize state violence.
「戦争のために二度とペンは取らない」
Surfers beneath the flight path to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
August 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Surfers beneath the flight path to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
Here's one of the first: the February 1975 press conference given by Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese army lieutenant who hid in the jungles of the Philippines for thirty years without knowing World War II was over.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2U...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2U...
FCCJ & A+E Networks Collaboration: 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda (2/171975) - English Subtitles
YouTube video by 日本外国特派員協会 オフィシャルサイトFCCJchannel
m.youtube.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Here's one of the first: the February 1975 press conference given by Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese army lieutenant who hid in the jungles of the Philippines for thirty years without knowing World War II was over.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2U...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2U...
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan is working with the History Channel to make available recordings of historic press conferences from the Club's archive.
FCCJ & A+E Networks Collaboration: 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda (2/171975) - English Subtitles
YouTube video by 日本外国特派員協会 オフィシャルサイトFCCJchannel
m.youtube.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:43 AM
The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan is working with the History Channel to make available recordings of historic press conferences from the Club's archive.
Super stoked to be featured in this forthcoming documentary, Unai, about PFAS contamination in Okinawa and around the world.
It will debut in cinemas in Naha on 26 July then in Tokyo from 16 August. Hopefully an international release in the near future, too.
#ウナイ
unai-pfas.jp
It will debut in cinemas in Naha on 26 July then in Tokyo from 16 August. Hopefully an international release in the near future, too.
#ウナイ
unai-pfas.jp
映画『ウナイ 透明な闇 PFAS汚染に立ち向かう』公式サイト
水が、あぶない―― PFAS汚染に立ち向かう女性たちによる未来のための物語
unai-pfas.jp
July 23, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Super stoked to be featured in this forthcoming documentary, Unai, about PFAS contamination in Okinawa and around the world.
It will debut in cinemas in Naha on 26 July then in Tokyo from 16 August. Hopefully an international release in the near future, too.
#ウナイ
unai-pfas.jp
It will debut in cinemas in Naha on 26 July then in Tokyo from 16 August. Hopefully an international release in the near future, too.
#ウナイ
unai-pfas.jp
After giving a two-hour lecture at Waseda Uni about investigative journalism, the only thing to recharge my batteries was a bowl of spicy vegan tantan noodles from the legendary Sora no Iro. Highly recommended!
July 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
After giving a two-hour lecture at Waseda Uni about investigative journalism, the only thing to recharge my batteries was a bowl of spicy vegan tantan noodles from the legendary Sora no Iro. Highly recommended!
Great news report on one of my heroes, Ishikawa Bunyo, the Okinawan photographer who chronicled the Vietnam War.
youtu.be/gRsOprzT6uM?...
youtu.be/gRsOprzT6uM?...
「戦争になれば民間人が犠牲になる」報道カメラマン石川文洋さん（87）【＃あなたの623】
YouTube video by 【琉球放送】RBC NEWS
youtu.be
June 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Great news report on one of my heroes, Ishikawa Bunyo, the Okinawan photographer who chronicled the Vietnam War.
youtu.be/gRsOprzT6uM?...
youtu.be/gRsOprzT6uM?...
On the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa, @okinawatimes.co.jp has started publishing the names of 242, 567 victims; they'll continue printing them from today until 22 June, the day the Japanese Army commanders killed themselves. (But the official Japanese surrender was not until September).
「平和の礎」に刻まれた24万2567人 沖縄タイムスで毎日掲載します 6月22日まで
「平和の礎」に刻まれた24万2567人 沖縄タイムスで毎日掲載します 6月22日まで
2025年06月10日 11時41分
www.okinawatimes.co.jp
June 10, 2025 at 2:53 AM
On the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa, @okinawatimes.co.jp has started publishing the names of 242, 567 victims; they'll continue printing them from today until 22 June, the day the Japanese Army commanders killed themselves. (But the official Japanese surrender was not until September).
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
Just finished a perfect book too full of too many perfect things, and now I have to wander the halls of my home and the streets of my city, lost for all eternity. How can I continue a life outside of the book? Is there even life outside of the book? What will become of me now?
November 22, 2023 at 11:47 PM
Just finished a perfect book too full of too many perfect things, and now I have to wander the halls of my home and the streets of my city, lost for all eternity. How can I continue a life outside of the book? Is there even life outside of the book? What will become of me now?
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
Was delighted to help with the Spanish and Catalan translation of this year's Urdd Peace and Goodwill Message: Poverty. A message so important but one which should not be needed. No young person should experience or live in poverty.
#Heddwch2025
youtu.be/adLSv8ACkWc
#Heddwch2025
youtu.be/adLSv8ACkWc
Neges Heddwch ac Ewyllys Da yr Urdd 2025 | #Heddwch2025 | The Urdd's 2025 Peace and Goodwill Message
YouTube video by Urdd Gobaith Cymru
youtu.be
May 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Was delighted to help with the Spanish and Catalan translation of this year's Urdd Peace and Goodwill Message: Poverty. A message so important but one which should not be needed. No young person should experience or live in poverty.
#Heddwch2025
youtu.be/adLSv8ACkWc
#Heddwch2025
youtu.be/adLSv8ACkWc
Reposted by Jon Mitchell 🏴 ジョン・ミッチェル
InterPol is happy to support Urdd Gobaith Cymru in their #Heddwch2025 message - focusing on poverty- both globally/locally- for 1 in 3 children live in poverty in Wales. Urdd calls for community action, empowerment and creating thinking from our leaders! 🙌https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adLSv8ACkWc
Neges Heddwch ac Ewyllys Da yr Urdd 2025 | #Heddwch2025 | The Urdd's 2025 Peace and Goodwill Message
YouTube video by Urdd Gobaith Cymru
www.youtube.com
May 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
InterPol is happy to support Urdd Gobaith Cymru in their #Heddwch2025 message - focusing on poverty- both globally/locally- for 1 in 3 children live in poverty in Wales. Urdd calls for community action, empowerment and creating thinking from our leaders! 🙌https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adLSv8ACkWc
Today's @okinawatimes.co.jp is running my article on the annual Urdd Peace and Goodwill message translated into Uchinaaguchi by @fijabyron.bsky.social. Both Wales and Okinawa share similarly dire levels of child poverty (this years' message theme).
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
深刻な子どもの貧困 克服に向け世界へメッセージ 英ウェールズの若者団体・Urdd 比嘉光龍さん、今年もうちなーぐち翻訳 | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス
【ジョン・ミッチェル特約通信員】英ウェールズ最大の若者組織「Ｕｒｄｄ」は１５日、毎年恒例の平和と友好のメッセージを発表した。今年のテーマは同国で深刻な子どもの貧困の克服。沖縄にも共通する課題で、ウェールズ語原文のメッセージが今年もうちなーぐちに翻訳され、他言語訳とともに世界へ発信された。
www.okinawatimes.co.jp
May 15, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Today's @okinawatimes.co.jp is running my article on the annual Urdd Peace and Goodwill message translated into Uchinaaguchi by @fijabyron.bsky.social. Both Wales and Okinawa share similarly dire levels of child poverty (this years' message theme).
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...
www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...