Japan Press Weekly

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2010 May 5 - 11 [JCP]

City mayor appreciates Shii’s visit to U.S.

Fujiyoshida City Mayor Horiuchi Shigeru in the meeting with JCP Yamanashi Prefectural Committee members on May 10 made this remark in regard to the fact that Shii conveyed to U.S. officials the Japanese people’s feelings on the issue of nuclear weapons and U.S. bases in Japan.

Citing that the U.S. had withdrawn from the Philippines, Horiuchi appreciated Shii’s work by saying, “More than half a century has passed since the end of WWII. (Shii’s action) posed the question that the Japan-U.S. relations should be discussed from a fundamental standpoint.”

In Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi Prefecture, which rests at the base of Mt. Fuji, the Japanese Self-Defense Force’s Kita-Fuji training area is situated. At the area, the U.S. Marines conducts firing drills using live ammunition.

Horiuchi said, “Although I thought that my recognition of the situation of Okinawa is better than that of other local leaders, when I visited Okinawa, I understood that the noise and danger of accident involving U.S. bombers are enormous. All Japanese should visit Okinawa and see for themselves.”

Regarding the fact that the government plans to move exercises of the U.S. Marines stationed at the Futenma base in Okinawa to SDF bases and training areas throughout the nation, Horiuchi said, “The government plan is unacceptable. I won’t change my mind that the Kita-Fuji Exercise ground should be fully returned to the prefecture and used for peaceful purposes.”
- Akahata, May 11, 2010