"You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." Happy birthday, James Baldwin!

Wow - super stoked that my book, Why are We in Okinawa? was chosen by @spl.org for one of their Eye Opening reads. Thank you for the show of support! seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/disp...

Book Bingo NW 2026: Eye-opening — a staff-created list from The Seattle Public Library

Here are some suggestions for your 2026 Book Bingo NW category: Eye-opening, selected by library staff at The Seattle Public Library. Book Bingo is our annual adult summer reading program presented in...

seattle.bibliocommons.com

The English version of my latest FOIA investigation is now live at @okinawatimes.co.jp It includes a breakdown of my 1800+ day struggle to wrestle information from the US Army about its PFAS spill into a civilian community www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...

Report: US Army aware of PFAS-contaminated water at Okinawa base before 2021 spill – but disposal process not yet started | Jon Mitchell Investigates | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス

At the time of a large PFAS spill from a US Army fuel storage facility in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, in June 2021, the military was already aware of contaminated water at the base – but a disposa...

okinawatimes.co.jp

Today, we're launching Unlocking Lived Experience, a 12-day campaign to raise $15,000 — with every dollar you give matched 1-to-1, up to that $15,000, thanks to a commitment from generous donors! Can you help us reach our goal?

Donate | Prison Journalism Project

Prison Journalism Project is supported by people like you. Support Prison Journalism Project today.

prisonjournalismproject.fundjournalism.org

Tonight, Okinawa TV station, RBC, is reporting on my 5-year struggle to obtain information from the US Army about its massive spill of PFAS. #FOIA newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/rbc...

「問題把握しながらなぜ」環境汚染問題取材のジャーナリストが指摘　2021年米軍PFAS汚染水流出 処理予算確保されず | 沖縄のニュース｜RBC 琉球放送

5年前、うるま市の米軍施設からPFAS（ピーファス）を含む汚染水が流出した事故で、米軍が、事前に汚染水の処分を計画していながら予算が確保されていなかったことが分かりました。その背景について環境汚染問題を…

newsdig.tbs.co.jp

Resistance to U.S. and Japanese militarism remains strong on Okinawa. fpif.org/islands-of-p... Author: @jonmitchell.bsky.social

Islands of Peace? - FPIF

Resistance to U.S. and Japanese militarism remains strong on Okinawa.

fpif.org

"Today, Okinawa remains one of the most militarized places on the planet. Its landscape is dominated by the current bases - 31 US and 57 Japanese Self-Defense Force facilities - alongside hundreds of memorials and museums to World War II" -- my piece at FPIF for @ips-dc.org fpif.org/islands-of-p...

Islands of Peace? - FPIF

Resistance to U.S. and Japanese militarism remains strong on Okinawa.

fpif.org

“When the war ended, bombs were dumped or buried, and the troops walked away. For more than 80 years, Solomon Islanders have lived in fear that the ground might explode beneath them.” — Atakohu Middleton on a new documentary that looks at how World War II is still destroying lives in the Solomons.

The war beneath their feet | E-Tangata

“When the war ended, bombs were dumped or buried, and the troops walked away. For more than 80 years, Solomon Islanders have lived in fear that the ground might explode beneath them.” — Atakohu Middle...

e-tangata.co.nz

For the 3rd consecutive year, linguist Fija Byron has translated the Urdd Peace and Goodwill message into Uchinaaguchi. On this year's message: "It made me feel that the people of Wales are suffering and grieving in much the same way as we Ruuchuuans are.” www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...

2026 Wales Peace and Goodwill Message emphasises importance of minority languages; linguist and translator Fija lauds relevance for Okinawa | Jon Mitchell Investigates | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス

“Why bother”, “Who cares”, “What’s the point.” These are the starting lines of the 2026 Peace and Goodwill Message produced by Welsh youth organization, the Urdd. Rendered as a 23-line poem, the messa...

okinawatimes.co.jp

Resistance on proud display along the Lennon Wall in Taichung, Taiwan. (Yet another reason this country is such a bright light during these dark times…)

On 8 June, I'll be in Taipei to give a book talk for the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club about the parallels between Okinawa and Taiwan – shared histories of violence, vibrant democratic engagement, and residents’ concerns about future conflict in the region. taiwanfcc.org/20260608-boo...

The most recent edition of The Diplomat is running an excerpt from my new book about why the US and Japan keep the military bases in Okinawa. (Spoiler: Money + Structural discrimination) thediplomat.com/2026/05/why-...

Why Does Okinawa Have So Many US Military Bases?

Author Jon Mitchell’s new book offers some answers.

thediplomat.com

NEW: Hawaiʻi is central to the Trump administration’s planned military buildup against China. A groundbreaking new report shows what the military presence in Hawaiʻi actually costs. Join this eye-opening report launch on Monday, June 1 at @busboysandpoets.bsky.social:

Report Launch: The True Cost of the U.S. Military in Hawai'i - Institute for Policy Studies

Join us for the release of the ground breaking report on how U.S. military impact on Hawaiʻis economic, environmental, strategic, and social conditions.

ips-dc.org

Today, @okinawatimes.co.jp is running the English version of my FOIA investigation into the drop of an 18kg bag from a USMC helicopter over Okinawa. The bag contained pyrotechnic flares - and, one year later, it still has not been found. www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1...

“This event can be attributed to ignorance” -- USMC investigation into 2025 helicopter drop incident over Motobu Peninsula | Jon Mitchell Investigates | 沖縄タイムス＋プラス

The UH-1Y from which the bag later dropped was photographed at the landing zone in Camp Hansen on 13 May 2025, the day of the accident. (DVIDS / USMC)

okinawatimes.co.jp

Immigration make Britain brilliant

The richest man owns X. The second and fourth richest men control Google. The third richest man owns The Washington Post. The fifth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros. See the problem here?

Why are We in Okinawa? by @jonmitchell.bsky.social charts Okinawa’s shift from Japanese annexation to U.S. occupation and today’s geopolitical pressures, highlighting the island’s enduring and often overlooked pacifist movement rooted in sustained grassroots resistance. https://bit.ly/4rLpTE3

This film couldn't come at a better time - and hopefully it receives a wide US release, too. variety.com/2026/film/ne...

Shinya Tsukamoto Vietnam Veteran Drama ‘Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?’ Sets Japan Release

Shinya's Tsukamoto's 'Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?' is headed to Japanese cinemas.

variety.com

The presence of ethnic Koreans in Japan, or "zainichi Koreans," is one of the legacies of Japanese colonialism. A Nation Within provides analysis of politics among zainichi Koreans & reshapes our understanding of Japanese history, Korean history, and the Cold War in Asia https://ow.ly/HJjx50YASGU

This arrived yesterday. Can't wait to start reading the latest from @jonmitchell.bsky.social.

Read more about Why are we in Okinawa? by @jonmitchell.bsky.social in Recentering Okinawa, one story at a time https://bit.ly/3NfjNNA 📘 https://bit.ly/4slWWPd

Recentering Okinawa, one story at a time

Through conferences, films and publications, international scholars and journalists are building bridges with Okinawan communities and amplifying the voices of local residents.

bit.ly

Book launch: 'Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence' written by Jon Mitchell youtu.be/OxAQ0Wqlrsw?... @jonmitchell.bsky.social

Book launch: 'Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence'

YouTube video by SOAS University of London

youtu.be

2/2 mutually understandable, why do many people still think Okinawan is just a “dialect”? 世界の言語学では、おきなわ語は日本語とは別の言語だと扱われます。 In linguistics around the world, Okinawan is treated as a language separate from Japanese.

1/2 日本語と英語 → 通じない Japanese and English → Not mutually understandable 日本語と韓国語 → 通じない Japanese and Korean → Not mutually understandable 日本語とおきなわ語 → 通じない Japanese and Okinawan → Not mutually understandable 言葉が通じないのに、なぜおきなわ語は「方言」だと考える人が多いのでしょうか？ If the languages are not →

🗞️Get to know @jonmitchell.bsky.social as he discusses his book Why are we in Okinawa?: A History of Violence in @nation.cymru https://bit.ly/4bozkno 📖 https://bit.ly/4aSxXNP

Interview: Welsh author discusses his latest book on Okinawa

Stephen Price Celebrated author, Jon Mitchell is set to hold a talk in Wales this March, discussing his latest book ‘Why are we in Okinawa? A History of Violence’, where he will discuss similarities b...

nation.cymru

Check out our #nonfiction books and authors that are hot this week! 📚💙 http://bit.ly/4jM73YT @jonmitchell.bsky.social @amydiehl.bsky.social

Thanks to everyone who attended last night’s book launch for “Why are We in Okinawa? A History of Violence” ( @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social ) at @soasuni.bsky.social We had a great turnout from Okinawa, UK, Ireland and the US. I’ll post the recording after it is uploaded.

📆 Don’t miss these events for Why are we in Okinawa? 4 March, 5-7pm, SOAS University of London https://bit.ly/4tWY7WW 5 March, 6-7:15pm, Sainsbury Institute https://bit.ly/473vFc9 12 March, 6-8pm, Temple of Peace Cardiff https://bit.ly/4rFjbjf 📕 https://bit.ly/4bcBSFc

If you're in London on 4 March, please come along to the launch event for my new book, "Why are We in Okinawa? A History of Violence" from @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social You can also attend online. Details in the link below. www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/...

If you’re in Cardiff next month, please come along to my talk about violence, discrimination and the resilience of the Okinawan peace movement (plus the parallels with Wales). www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-okina...

From Okinawa to Wales: Peace and Resistance Across 10,000 Kilometres

O Okinawa i Gymru: Heddwch a Gwrthsafiad dros 10,000 o Gilometrau

eventbrite.co.uk