James Matayoshi

James Matayoshi (born 1968) 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 and 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]

In February 2023, The Washington Post reported that Matayoshi is under investigation by the Marshall Islands' attorney general.[13]

References
  1. Mayor wants to develop economy for Rongelap Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, July 7, 2005, Kyodo News Agency
  2. James heads Ports board, March 28, 2008, Marshall Islands Journal
  3. Nuclear Awareness Conference Archived 2010-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, April 23, 2008, University of Alaska
  4. Parks Air Force Base Pleasanton, California June 26 to August, 1956 Archived 2011-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, commemorative page by F. Sheff, retrieved October 17, 2009
  5. Interview with Almira Matayoshi Archived 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, 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 Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine, June 18, 2007, Giff Johnson, Pacific Islands Report
  12. Rongelap Resettlement Moves Ahead with Piggery Farm and Housing Projects, April 3, 2005, Yokwe Online
  13. McKenzie, Pete (February 15, 2023). "Bribes, booze and bombs: The brazen plan to create a Pacific tax haven". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
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