Okinawa on Friday marked the 48th anniversary of its reversion to Japan from U.S. control as protests against American military facilities there were canceled over the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan's sovereignty was restored based on the 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty after its defeat in World War II, but Okinawa's reversion on May 15, 1972, was tempered by the large chunks of land that remained occupied by U.S. base facilities.
"I will completely devote myself to resolving issues (in Okinawa) including the heavy burden (of hosting U.S. bases)," Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki said at a news conference.