More than 70% of Okinawans want Futenma base to be removed or moved outside Japan

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

More than 70% of Okinawans want Futenma base to be removed or moved outside Japan

In Okinawa, 84 percent of residents are opposed to the relocation of the U.S. Futenma base from Ginowan City to Henoko in Nago City while 6 percent support it, Mainichi Shimbun reported on May 31.

This is according to an opinion poll jointly conducted by Tokyo-based Mainichi Shimbun and Okinawa's Ryukyu Shimpo in response to the recent Japan-U.S. agreement on moving the U.S. Marine air station to Nago's Henoko district.

Among those who are against relocating the Futenma base to Henoko, 38 percent said it should be unconditionally removed and 36 percent expressed it should be moved outside Japan, showing that more than 70 percent of Okinawans want the U.S. military facility to be removed without condition or moved out of the nation.

Some expressed the opinion that they want Futenma to be relocated to other locations in Japan (16 percent) and elsewhere in Okinawa (4 percent).

Seven percent felt that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty should be maintained while the majority said it should be changed to a peace and friendship treaty (55 percent) and 14 percent said it should be abrogated.

The stationing of the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa is recognized as unnecessary by 71 percent of respondents and as necessary by 15 percent.

Regarding the fact that 74 percent of U.S. military facilities in Japan are located in Okinawa, 50 percent said they should be reduced and 41 percent want them to be removed.

- Akahata, June 1, 2010