Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto said Monday he will propose to the central government that an airport just outside the city of Osaka host part of the training exercises for U.S. Osprey transport aircraft.
The mayor, who co-heads Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), told reporters he will suggest to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Thursday that Yao Airport host training exercises for the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft currently deployed to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa.
"Honshu . . . should at least accept Osprey training to alleviate the burden on Okinawa from hosting (the bulk of) U.S. military forces," Hashimoto said at Osaka City Hall.