Masaharu Noguni

Okinawa International Movie Festival Organization Committee Honorary Vice-Chairman
Mayor of Chatan

Haisai! Gusu-yo, chu-uganabira. “Okinawa International Movie Festival” nkai menso-chi kimiso-chi ippeh-nifeh-deh-biru.
(Haisai! How is everyone? Thank you all for coming to this the “Okinawa International Movie Festival”)
I am very excited at the holding of the “8th Okinawa International Movie Festival”, and would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for all of their hard work.
The Okinawa International Movie Festival, which began in 2009 with the slogans “Laugh & Peace” and “Great Things in All the Islands”, is constantly getting bigger, with not just movies but vari-ous other forms of entertainment which engulf the entire prefecture of Okinawa.
Okinawa is a place where new talents are discovered, and is the start-ing point for various forms of entertainment. The theme of “Great Things in All the Islands” matches perfectly with the Okinawan spirit of “Yui Maru (helping each other)”, and this event has now become well established as a place where many people can be carried away in “laughter” and “excitement”.
Last year, Okinawa had a record number of tourists, with 7.763 million visitors, marking the third year of records in a row. It is our hope that in addition to all of the many “laughs”, this Okinawa International Movie Festival will help visitors to the prefecture to spread the many charms of Okinawa with them throughout the world.
In conclusion, I look forward with excitement to the continued development of the Okinawa International Movie Festival, and to meeting all of the wonderful smiles of all of its visitors.