The Futenma base remains a persistent pain for local residents

According to a report by Mainichi Shimbun on April 11: It will mark the 30th anniversary since the 1996 U.S.-Japan agreement to return the Futenma Airbase (located in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) to Japan. The Japanese government plans to carry out land reclamation along the coast of the U.S. military base in Henoko, Nago City, to facilitate the relocation of U.S. forces—a key precondition for returning the Futenma Airbase.

However, even if construction proceeds smoothly, the relocation will not be completed until after 2036, leaving the originally promised "5 to 7 years" timeline for return unclear. Residents surrounding the Futenma Airbase also continue to face risks from accidents and noise pollution.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki stated during his regular press briefing on the 10th: “Local residents have long suffered greatly from the noise, pollution caused by the Futenma Airbase, and misconduct by U.S. military personnel,” and called upon both the Japanese and American governments to “swiftly close the Futenma Airbase and restore the area as soon as possible, regardless of whether relocation takes place.”

Seventy percent of all U.S. military facilities in Japan are located in Okinawa. Military bases built during the final stages of World War II (1945) and those established during the U.S. occupation period after the war have seen a very slow pace of return to Japan—even after Okinawa was officially returned to Japan in 1972.

In 1995, three U.S. servicemen committed a heinous crime against a young elementary school girl. In response to rising anti-base sentiment, the U.S. and Japanese governments agreed to fully return the Futenma Airbase.

Yet, many local residents oppose relocating the base to their area. Since 2017, the Japanese government has initiated relocation projects based on public opinion, but large areas of soft geological conditions were discovered in the planned reclamation zone, requiring extensive ground improvement work. Construction is expected to be extremely difficult, and no completion date has been announced yet.

Ginowan City Mayor Jun Higa emphasized to reporters on the 10th: “The Futenma Airbase has imposed a heavy burden on local residents, and its return has long been a heartfelt aspiration.” “It is deeply disheartening, sorrowful, and regrettable that this return has not been realized,” he said with a solemn expression.

Cabinet Office Chief Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said: “We take seriously the fact that the return has not been achieved,” and added: “Given government policy, the relocation to Henoko is the only viable solution. We believe steady progress in construction will lead to the earliest possible full return, thereby eliminating risks faced by local residents.”

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862143572896905/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author