TOKUNOSHIMA, Kagoshima Pref. — When Tokunoshima, an island with about 26,000 residents officially governed by Kagoshima Prefecture but counted as part of the Satsunan Islands that lie closer to Okinawa than Kyushu, first emerged as a candidate host for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, local reaction was one of shock.
"We'd heard nothing about Futenma being relocated to Tokunoshima until it was reported in the media that (Prime Minister Yukio) Hatoyama was considering it," said Yuichiro Esaki, 67, a local retiree.
At a demonstration last Sunday against the move, which organizers claimed drew 15,000 people but was likely a few thousand less, many said what angered them most was the central government's lack of prior consultation.