Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga was finally allowed to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Friday for the first time since he was elected in November, and demanded that Abe stop ongoing work to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the city of Ginowan to Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture.
Onaga also asked Abe to explain to U.S. President Barack Obama, during their planned summit next month in Washington, that Okinawan people are opposed to the controversial relocation plan.
Abe, who has pledged to strengthen the U.S.-Japan military alliance by promoting the relocation within Okinawa, did not answer Onaga's request, according to an official who was at the meeting,which was held at the Prime Minister's Office.