Japan Press Weekly

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2026 August 12 - 18 TOP3 [ECONOMY]

Return of US military bases to Japan brings economic benefits to Okinawa

The return of former U.S. military sites to Japan is expected to provide significant economic benefits to Okinawan communities. This reaffirms the point made by former Governor Onaga Takeshi that U.S. military bases are “the biggest obstacle to Okinawa’s economic growth.”

According to preliminary estimates released by the Okinawa prefectural government, the economic ripple effect resulting from the total closure of five U.S. military sites, including Futenma Air Station, will total 1.8977 trillion yen following their return.

The number of jobs is estimated to rise to 124,428, which is a 23-fold increase compared to before the return. Tax revenue is also projected to reach 152 billion yen annually, an 18-fold increase from current levels.

Regarding the already-returned three areas, the annual economic impact is 366.2 billion yen, with the direct economic impact 41 times greater than before the return. The number of new jobs has also surged to 39,041, a 51-fold increase compared to before the return. Tax revenue has also swelled to 51.3 billion yen, a 52-fold increase.

The prefectural government plans to compile the final estimates by the end of March 2027.