Staff writer
GINOWAN, Okinawa Pref. -- Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto arrived here Friday to announce new industry promotion measures for the prefecture to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Okinawa's 1972 return from the United States to Japan.
"We must pave a new way for Okinawa to develop toward the next century. This ceremony is being held especially to commemorate a firm new starting point for Okinawa," Hashimoto said in an address during the ceremony. Acknowledging that Japan's "lack of understanding" placed the overwhelming military burden of the Japanese-U.S. Security Treaty on Okinawa, Hashimoto reiterated that his government will continue to do its best to realign and reduce U.S. military bases, as agreed last December by the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee.