Okinawa base debate ignores the bigger picture
Like many construction projects supported by the public sector, the new U.S. Marine Corps air base being built in the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, has seen its budget skyrocket since it was first proposed and its completion date postponed. When the project ...
Who benefits from the Henoko delay?
Most people in Okinawa Prefecture in fact do not truly desire a solution to the so-called Okinawa problem.
The government needs to assess whether the Futenma replacement project — with the substantial delays, cost overruns and local opposition — is still a viable project.
Work on U.S. base at Henoko in Okinawa to cost nearly triple initial estimate
Building the replacement facility is now expected to cost ¥930 billion, far exceeding its initial ¥350 billion estimate, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
Land reclamation for U.S. base at Henoko in Okinawa to take five years longer
The government has concluded that the period for landfill work must be extended to about 10 years from the initially planned five years for a project to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, informed sources said Monday. The expected extension ...
Henoko dispute between Okinawa and Japan's central government seen further intensifying
While Saturday marked the first anniversary of the start of landfill work Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki blasted the Abe administration’s “illegal” landfill work, calling it “an act of trampling on democracy.”
Okinawa protesters mark a year since landfill work began for Futenma relocation plan
A protest took place in Okinawan waters Saturday near the planned new home of a contentious U.S. airbase in the prefecture, marking a year since full-blown landfill work began. "We'll never give up, let's keep going," the protesters yelled in chorus while paddling some 30 ...
With a population under a dozen, Okinawa dugongs labeled 'critically endangered' by IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has updated its Red List of Threatened Species, moving the dugong that dwell in waters off Okinawa Prefecture to the critically endangered category and putting it a step away from extinction. The organization warned that the number of ...
Former PM Hatoyama regrets reneging on pledge to move Futenma airbase out of Okinawa
Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama says it was a "big mistake" to abandon his pledge to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma out of Okinawa. Hatoyama became prime minister in September 2009, after the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan scored a landslide victory in ...
Another window from U.S. military helicopter falls off, this time into sea off Okinawa
A local bureau of the Defense Ministry reported to the Okinawa Prefectural Government on Thursday that a window of a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter detached from the aircraft and fell into the sea. The part from the CH-53E large transport helicopter stationed at the U.S. ...
University president seeks closure of U.S. base 15 years after helicopter crash on campus
Staff and students called for the closure of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Tuesday, as they gathered to mark 15 years since a military helicopter from the base crashed on the campus at Okinawa International University. Both the Futenma base and the university ...
Okinawa files another lawsuit over landfill work for U.S. base
The Okinawa government on Wednesday filed another lawsuit against the central government to halt ongoing landfill work for the relocation of a U.S. air base within the prefecture. In the lawsuit filed with the Naha District Court, Okinawa challenged the legality of land minister Keiichi ...
