NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima told Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on Saturday that prefectural residents are insistent that U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma be relocated outside Okinawa.
"Prefectural residents hope to see the air station moved outside of the prefecture. Please answer" their call, Nakaima told Hirano during their meeting at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office, officials accompanying the top government spokesman said.
After the meeting, Nakaima told reporters that he would not consider using Shimoji or Ie islands in the prefecture as a possible relocation site, as has been suggested.
Hirano, who chairs a new government panel on the issue, flew to the prefecture Friday to hear the opinions of the local government and prefectural residents on the matter.
He told the governor that the government is making efforts to reach a conclusion by May, but also suggested Okinawa may be asked to bear some of the burden, including accepting part of the air station's functions.
"We may have to ask for your decision," Hirano was quoted by the officials as telling the Okinawa governor.
Hirano later told reporters that while the panel will consider the issue from scratch, there may be cases in which the government may ask the local government for a "political decision" in the course of deliberations.
Nakaima also reiterated the prefecture's call for reviewing the 1960 Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and for taking tentative measures such as moving some training programs at the U.S. air station to other sites before the eventual relocation.
As for the review of the status of forces agreement, Hirano said the government has been discussing the matter with the United States "based on a relationship of trust," according to the officials.
Later on Saturday, Hirano visited the Futenma base.