July 22, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa Prefecture on July 22 conducted a parachuting drill from an MV22 Osprey aircraft in the sea area off Nago’s Henoko, where the construction of a new U.S. base as a replacement for the U.S. Futenma base is underway, for the first time in 17 years.

During the drill which began at 2:20 p.m. and lasted about one hour, 10 U.S. soldiers jumped out of the MV22 flying at a low altitude. It is believed that a helipad located behind the National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College in Henoko was used as a training base.

Governor Tamaki Denny at a press conference four days prior to the parachute drill said that he called on the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa defense bureau to urge the U.S. military to provide thorough explanation to address residents’ concerns, implement comprehensive safety measures during the drill, and give maximum consideration to local concerns, chiefly those of fishermen. He also said that he will seek detailed explanation from the defense bureau in order to make sure that the number of such exercises will not increase.

A 69-year-old Henoko resident expressed his concern that the latest parachute drill may lead to a situation where the U.S. military would hold training exercises routinely at Henoko.