The Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court ruled Friday that Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga's cancellation of a landfill project related to construction of a replacement facility for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma was illegal.
The decision hands the central government, which is pushing for completion of the project in the Henoko district, a victory in the nearly two-decade standoff between Okinawa and Tokyo over the issue.
The legal struggle is likely to continue however, as lawyers for Okinawa said following the verdict they will appeal to the Supreme Court. If the top court agrees to hear the case, a final decision could be handed down as early as next spring.