February 3, 2013

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on February 2 made his first visit to Okinawa after his return to power and met with the governor at a hotel in Naha City, the prefectural capital.

About 300 citizens converged in front of the prefectural office building to hold a protest rally, facing the prime minister with a flood of anger.

In the meeting, Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu urged Abe to withdraw Osprey aircraft from the Futenma base, saying that it is a matter of course for the prefecture to reject the aircraft which have caused major concerns regarding their safety since their development phase.

He also criticized the Japan-U.S. agreement to prohibit Ospreys from flying over residential areas as being unrealistic since the Futenma base is situated in the center of Ginowan City.

The prime minister, however, replied that he will make efforts to lessen the negative impacts and people’s anxiety caused by the Osprey deployment. He also showed his intention to promote the planned relocation of the base to Henoko in Nago City.

Unlike the Democratic Party government which allowed media reporters to stay in the room during summit meetings between the prefecture and the state, the Liberal Democratic Party-led government shut out reporters from the meeting room after the initial 15 minutes.

Asked by reporters about topics covered in the closed-door talks, Abe said that he talked with the Okinawa leader about ways to develop the prefecture. He referred to the explanation he proudly made to Nakaima in reporters’ presence that the FY2013 budget draft included 300 billion yen for the development of Okinawa.

It is unforgivable for the prime minister to use the underhanded tactic of bribery in which the government sweetens the deal for Okinawa with government subsidies offered behind closed doors.