JAPAN | Saturday, 22 November 2014 | Views [394]
An activist outside the construction site of a new U.S. military base addresses a crowd of over 5,000 protesters. Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture and although it only makes up 0.6% of Japan`s total land mass it houses 75% of the country's U.S. military base presence. The newest base is currently under construction in Henoko, Northern Okinawa, as part of a relocation deal to close down the controversial Futenma Air Station in the densely populated Ginowan City. However, many Okinawans are opposed to the plan and want the base moved out of the prefecture altogether. Mr. Onaga, a strong opponent of the relocation plan won the recent prefectural elections by a significant margin campaigning on an anti-base platform.
Tags: protest, okinawa, japan, activism, peace
