Chinese Businesswoman Plans Summer Visit to Okinawa's Yanaha Island

Beijing - A Chinese entrepreneur, who gained attention two years ago for her claims of purchasing an island in Okinawa, is set to visit the island this summer, according to reports from Chinese media. The businesswoman is reportedly organizing a trip for her employees to Yanaha Island, located in the village of Izena, scheduled for July or August.

Yanaha Island, which is uninhabited, has been partially owned by a Chinese consulting firm based in Tokyo since February 2021. The woman asserted that she acquired the island through direct negotiations with its current owner after discovering that it was being auctioned off. However, she has not disclosed the purchase price.

The motivation behind her decision to buy the island stems from its proximity to Qingdao, her birthplace in the Shandong province of China. She expressed her commitment to preserving the island's natural environment, stating that she would consider developing it only if she finds a suitable partner; otherwise, her intention is to pass it down to future generations.

Ten years ago, the businesswoman returned to Qingdao after completing her studies in Japan and subsequently established her own dining business. Her announcement on social media in January 2023 regarding the purchase of the island raised national security concerns within Japan. In response, then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno indicated that the Japanese government would closely monitor any developments related to the island.