Politics · Japan · 1 hr ago
Okinawa governor accepts US Osprey deployment at Futenma
Okinawa Gov.
Genta Koja has accepted US Osprey aircraft at Futenma air station in southern Japan.
His decision reverses the prefecture's longstanding opposition, which previous governors based on safety concerns.
The aircraft have been stationed at Futenma since 2012, and Koja said it is unrealistic to demand their removal after more than 10 years.
Ospreys can take off and land like helicopters and fly like fixed-wing planes, but they have a record of accidents in Japan and abroad.
Koja also supports moving Futenma from Ginowan to Henoko, a coastal area in Nago within Okinawa.
He said accepting the Ospreys fits with that relocation plan, which would transfer the aircraft to Henoko.
The sources do not say when the move will happen.
Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja said he accepts the deployment of U.S. military MV-22 Osprey aircraft at Futenma air station.
His position reverses the prefecture’s longstanding opposition to the aircraft.
Koja said it was not realistic to call for ending their deployment or use after more than 10 years.
He supports relocating Futenma from densely populated Ginowan to the coastal Henoko area in Nago.
The Ospreys are expected to be transferred to Henoko under the relocation plan.
- Who
- Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja.
- What
- He accepted the deployment of U.S. military MV-22 Osprey aircraft at Futenma air station.
- When
- Friday; the articles were published on Oct. 16, 2026.
- Where
- Futenma air station in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan. The relocation plan would move the base to Henoko in Nago.
- Why
- Koja said that after more than 10 years, it was not realistic to call for ending the aircraft’s deployment or use. He linked his acceptance to his support for relocating the base.
Previous Okinawa prefectural governments opposed to deployment
Gov. Genta Koja
Position on Osprey deployment
Previous Okinawa prefectural governments opposed to deployment
Previous prefectural governments opposed the aircraft’s deployment, citing safety concerns.
Gov. Genta Koja
Koja accepts the deployment, saying it is not realistic to call for ending it after more than 10 years.
Futenma relocation
Previous Okinawa prefectural governments opposed to deployment
The articles describe the previous governments as critical of U.S. bases but do not state their position on the relocation plan.
Gov. Genta Koja
Koja supports relocating Futenma from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago.
U.S. Ospreys were first stationed at Futenma, after previous prefectural governments had opposed their deployment.
Koja assumed the post of Okinawa governor.
Koja said he accepts the Osprey deployment at Futenma.
- Governor
- Genta Koja
- Aircraft
- U.S. military MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft
- Current base
- Futenma air station, Ginowan
- Proposed relocation
- Henoko area, Nago
- First stationed
- 2012
5 sources
Japan’s Okinawa drops opposition to hosting crash-prone US Osprey aircraft
Okinawa Prefecture reverses stance, accepts US Osprey deployment
Okinawa Prefecture reverses stance, accepts U.S. Osprey deployment
What people are saying
More than 10 years have passed since the deployment. Considering that the Self-Defense Forces operate the aircraft, it is not realistic to call for a retraction of their deployment or use,