Political analysts in Japan and the U.S. agree that the heated battle between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Ichiro Ozawa for control of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan could have a huge impact on the relocation of the U.S. Futenma air base.
Experts in Tokyo and Okinawa say that if Kan is re-elected, the Futenma base will go as planned to Henoko in the northern part of Okinawa. But if Ozawa wins and becomes prime minister, all bets are off the table regarding what direction he would take, they say.
Meanwhile, Japan hands in the U.S. believe that Kan would be more welcome in Washington than Ozawa and have praised his acceptance of the May 28 accord to relocate Futenma to Henoko. But they also believe that whoever is prime minister, he needs to be more forceful with the U.S. about the future of not only Futenma but the bilateral relationship as a whole.