A closer look at U.S. Futenma base’s ‘relocation’ issue How was it started?

The U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is located in the center of Ginowan City, one of the largest cities in Okinawa with a population of 92,000. It occupies 25 percent of the city’s land and has a 2,800-meter runway that is used by about 70 helicopters as well as mid-air refueling aircraft stationed there and aircraft coming from other U.S. bases. It is estimated that there are more than 45,000 take offs and landings at the base annually.

JCP Shii urges PM to act to fundamentally change policies

In the House of Representatives plenary session on October 29, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo questioned Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio regarding the issues of people’s livelihoods, welfare services, agriculture, fiscal resources, and U.S. military bases in Okinawa.