Key figure in Tokunoshima refuses to cooperate on Futenma issue

Japan Press Weekly

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Key figure in Tokunoshima refuses to cooperate on Futenma issue

Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio on April 28 met with former Lower House lawmaker Tokuda Torao, a native of Tokunoshima Island, to ask for his cooperation on the Futenma base relocation issue, but Tokuda refused to do so.

Tokuda, Chair of Tokushukai Medical Corporation, the third largest hospital group in the world, is a key figure on Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture and thus has considerable influence over the whole island even though he already retired as a member of the House of Representatives.

In the meeting, Hatoyama explained that the government plans to transfer to the island 1,000 U.S. Marine helicopter units currently stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa. This was the first time that Hatoyama revealed the government plan under consideration.

Hatoyama also stated that he wants to meet with three town mayors of Tokunoshima Island who clearly oppose the relocation of the Futenma base to Tokunoshima.

Tokuda replied, “I will behave politely to you, but I don’t think it is possible to move the Futenma base to Tokunoshima. You should respect people’s demands.”

Later on the same day, asked by reporters about the meeting between Hatoyama and Tokuda, Okubo Akira, Isen Town Mayor, said, “I can’t believe that Hatoyama met Tokuda before meeting with local people. It is an inappropriate approach to the Futenma base issue.”

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi at a news conference in Kyoto City stated, “Hatoyama’s intention to achieve success with the Futenma base relocation using Tokuda’s influence ignores Tokunoshima island people’s demands. The unconditional closure and removal of the Futenma base is the only option that the Hatoyama government must consider.”

An assembly of mayors of all towns and villages in Kagoshima Prefecture held on the same day resolved to oppose the government plan to move the Futenma base to anywhere within Kagoshima Prefecture.

? Akahata, April 30, 2010