Okinawa Governor (L), Hirokazu Nakaima, meets Japan Defense Minister (R), Itsunori Onodera.  Source: Asahi Shimbun.

On 5 April 2013, the U.S. and Japan announced an agreement on a consolidation plan that involves a timetable for the return of some 2,500 acres of Okinawan land and the transfer of 2,700 US forces stationed in Okinawa to Hawaii and Guam.  The consolidation plan is not new but originated from an earlier agreement reached in 1996 that called for a detailed plan by late 2012.   The plan arose from the furor surrounding the gang rape of an Okinawan school girl by American servicemen.  Moreover, the announced plan pushes back the moving of Futenma base by 9 years to 2022.

The agreement strengthens ties between the two countries, but it is not clear what the local Okinawan opinion is.  The governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima, told reporters:

I think it is extremely good that the government is buckling down to deal in concrete terms with the return of the bases.  But it is hard to evaluate the plan until I have had a chance to consult with mayors of the affected communities.  (in The New York Times; emphasis added)

The Asahi Shimbun reported that Governor Nakaima noted that the announced plan was vague about when Futenma land would be returned.  He pointed out that the land would be returned “fiscal 2022 or later” provided that certain conditions were met.  [Note: See pages 17, 19, and 27 of the plan.]  On the day of the announcement some 120 protestors confronted Japan Defense Minister Itsurnori Onodera calling for the unconditional return of land under Futenma air station.

While the agreement sets 2022 as the target date for the return of Futenma base, it is contingent on a replacement air base being operational in another part of Okinawa. In short, one base is closed while another is created within Okinawa.  The proposed replacement base in Henoko has been criticized as being situated in valuable ecological site.

Sources

The New York Times, 4 April 2013, “U.S. and Japan Agree on Returning Okinawa Land” by Martin Fackler.

Pacific Business News, 5 April 2013, “U.S., Japan announce plans to move Marines from Okinawa to Hawaii, Guam” by Mark Abramson.

Huffington Post, 6 April 2013, “Okinawa Land Return Deal Reached Between Japan, U.S.” by Lolita C. Baldor.

The Asahi Shimbun, 6 April 2013, “Okinawans blast vague plan to return land used by U.S. military.”