Jon Mitchell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ジョン・ミッチェル
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Jon Mitchell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ジョン・ミッチェル
@jonmitchell.bsky.social
1.1K followers 540 following 89 posts
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
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jonmitchell.bsky.social
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...
Book cover featuring the text, Jon Mitchell - Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence and Bloomsbury. The off-white cover features a sky blue obi belt which includes a swallow, red hibiscus and two jet fighters.
October 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
Much-needed break from book editing = sunset run along Tokyo’s Tama River. (Finally sounds/smells of an end to summer’s heat).
Orange skies over Tamagawa, Tokyo. On the left, three apartment blocks (and Mt Fuji) then a long roaded bridge. The foreground reflects the above.
September 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
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」
A teardrop shaped stone memorial in an Okinawan park engraved with the names of journalists who died in the Battle of Okinawa.
August 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
Surfers beneath the flight path to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
August 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
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!
A red porcelain bowl filled with vegan tantan noodles topped with moyashi, chingensai and soy mince.
July 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
"In 1879, our Ryukyu nation was taken from us by Japan. Since then we have been forced to get our education through a system that has turned us into Japanese citizens... we, as Ryukyuans, have the right to say we are Ryukyu people, not Japanese people." Fija Byron
newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/27964
In the foreground, Fija Byron plays the sanshin. He is dressed in a light blue cotton kimono. In the background a man dances with a fan.
May 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!
Happy St David’s Day from Tokyo!
Tonight’s menu: leek and chickpea soup.
Chopping board with leeks, garlic, potato, cutting knife, chickpeas and wooden spoon. Two bowls of leek&chickpea soup, olive focaccia and a glass of Napa Pinot Noir.
March 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
In Tokyo, the plum blossoms are out, too. Walks are important.
Pink plum blossoms against a cloudy blue sky in Tokyo.
February 24, 2025 at 1:29 AM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
Fuel for a long night of editing: vegan tonkotsu ramen from the ever delicious T’s Restaurant in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo. Lovely.
A colourful bowl of vegan tonkotsu noodles atop a wooden tabletop in a Tokyo restaurant.
January 20, 2025 at 9:19 AM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
明けましておめでとうございます！
Happy 2025 to everyone!
May your year be filled with peace, love and piping hot bowls of (vegetarian) ozōni!
January 2, 2025 at 12:25 PM
jonmitchell.bsky.social
Important upcoming webinar by the Okinawa Interest Group.

"Cover-up? Sexual Assaults Continue in Militarized Okinawa."

Guest speakers, Suzuyo Takazato and Alexis Dudden, w/ commentary by Steve Rabson.

When? October 4th (US) or 5th (Japan)

Register at: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Flyer describing upcoming webinar. In March of this year, a man stationed at Kadena Airbase in Okinawa was indicted for the kidnapping and sexual assault in December 2023 of a girl under 16, only the lastest in a seemingly endless series of sexual assaults by U.S. forces in Okinawa. Only when it was reported in the local media on June 25 did the Japanese government in Tokyo inform the Okinawa Prefectural Government of the indictment. There have been multiple cases of such delays in reporting discovered since then, and it is widely viewed in Okinawa as a Japanese government cover-up. Yet the topic is talked about so little in the United States and mainland Japan. We, the Okinawa Interest Group (OIG), invite you to join our webinar on the 4th of October (the 5th in Japan) focussing on this issue, with two featured guest speakers, Suzuyo Takazato and Alexis Dudden, and an OIG member Steve Rabson as a commentator.
September 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM