Politics · Japan · 1 hr ago
Okinawa governor visits site of planned Futenma base relocation
Okinawa Gov.
Genta Koja visited the Henoko site in Nago on Saturday, where Japan plans to move the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The visit included a briefing on construction and work to reinforce the site's soft foundation, amid comments that construction has stalled.
The relocation is part of a 1996 Japan-US agreement intended to reduce the dangers posed by the busy base in Ginowan.
Many Okinawans oppose the move because of concerns about safety, noise and the environment, as well as the island's history.
Okinawa hosts around 70 percent of US Forces Japan facilities used exclusively by the US military, adding to concerns about the burden on the prefecture.
Koja said he was sorry that the project would place more burden on nearby communities.
He said he would ask the national government for measures to ease that strain; no specific measures or timeline were given.
Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja visited the planned Henoko transfer site for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Oct. 17.
Koja supports moving the base from Ginowan to the coastal area of Henoko in Nago.
He received an overview of construction plans and visited work to reinforce the site’s soft foundation.
Koja met leaders of three nearby districts and said he would ask the national government for measures to ease the burden on local communities.
The relocation remains contentious in Okinawa, where concerns include safety, noise and the environment.
- Who
- Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja visited with Masaru Murai, head of the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa bureau, and Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, the U.S. military’s Okinawa area coordinator.
- What
- Koja visited the planned site for relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and reviewed construction work.
- When
- Oct. 17, 2026.
- Where
- Henoko, in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- The visit concerned the planned relocation of Futenma from Ginowan to Henoko; the 1996 agreement aimed to eliminate dangers posed by the busy base to the surrounding area.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to relocate Futenma to eliminate dangers the busy base poses to the surrounding area.
Koja, backed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, defeated relocation opponent Denny Tamaki in the gubernatorial election.
Koja visited the Henoko construction site and met leaders of three nearby districts.
- Governor
- Genta Koja
- Planned transfer site
- Henoko, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture
- Current base location
- Ginowan, Okinawa
- Site work
- Reinforcing a soft foundation
- Nearby communities
- Leaders of three local districts met Koja
- Agreement
- Japanese-U.S. relocation agreement reached in 1996
What people are saying
We feel very sorry for placing more burden