On July 4, the Consulate General Naha, with the support of the American Chamber of Commerce in Okinawa, celebrated America's 231st Independence Day with 800 friends of the United States.

Among the distinguished guests were Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador to Okinawa Toshinori Shigeie; Diet members Mikio Shimoji and Aiko Shimajiri; Okinawa Vice Governor Zenki Nakazato; Major General Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin; Japan Air Self Defense Force Major General Takahiko Hanzawa; Urasoe City Mayor Mitsuo Gima; and Okinawa-America Association and Gario Fulbright President Mikio Higa. In addition, a number of young Americans teaching English in the prefecture through the JET program were also invited to the event.