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Discordant Visitors: Japanese and Okinawan Messages to the US

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Satoko Oka Norimatsu  and
Gavan McCormack
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Governments come and go in Japan, Noda Yoshihiko's the most recent, being the third since the general elections of 30 August 2009 brought the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to power, following those of Hatoyama Yukio and Kan Naoto. In the weeks following his assumption of office, Noda has stated his core vision for the office on many occasions, including his inaugural Diet speech as Prime Minister on 13 September. He promises to confirm, deepen, and strengthen the alliance with the US, “the axis of Japan foreign policy and security.” That means, above all else, he will construct the base for the Marine Corps in northern Okinawa designed to substitute for the Futenma base that squats dangerously in the middle of the township of Ginowan.

Type
Research Article
Information
Asia-Pacific Journal , Volume 9 , Issue 40 , October 2011 , e1
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2011

References

Notes

1 Takeshita, Obuchi, Mori, Koizumi, Abe, Fukuda, and Aso of the LDP, and Hatoyama and Kan of the DPJ.

2 “Obama hosts Noda, ‘advises action on base’,” Japan Times, 23 September 2011.

3 AP, Kyodo, Futenma broached at first summit, Obama hosts Noda, advises action on base, “Japan Times, 23 September 2011.

4 US Department of State, “US Foreign Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region,”21 September 2011, link.

5 US Department of State, “US Foreign Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region,”21 September 2011, link.

6 “Shusho ‘Futenma isetsu ni zenryoku,' Bei daitoryo ‘shinten kitai,'” Yomiuri shimbun, 22 September 2011.

7 Takeshi Endo, “Noda-Obama hold 1st talks,” 23 September 2011.

8 “Rough start: Obama pressed Noda at first meeting,” Asahi shimbun, 23 September 2011.

9 “Unrealistic promise on Futenma,” Japan Times, 24 September 2011.

10 “Noda shusho Futenma shinten e kadai seou,” Jiji News Agency, 22 September 2011. For a detailed survey of Japanese media coverage, see Satoko Norimatsu, “Noda Obama kaidan hodo wa okashii,” Peace Philosophy Centre 23 September 2011, “Nichibei kaidan, Obama hatsugen to sareta mono o Noda ga hitei,” Peace Philosophy, 24 September 2011, and “Noda Obama kaidan hodo wa okashii sonogo,” 27 September 2011.

11 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Nichibei shuno kaidan (gaiyo),”22 September 2011, link.

12 “Futenma isetsu gigi ga fujo, kubi o kashifgeru shusho,” Ryukyu shimpo, 24 September 2011.

13 “Shuin yosan i de noda shsho bei daitoryo no kekka motomeru hatsugen hitei,” Ryukyu shimpo, 26 September 2011.

14 “Editorial: Noda should win Okinawa's trust to solve Futenma,” Asahi shimbun, 19 September 2011.

15 “To strengthen US alliance, Noda must produce results,” Yomiuri shimbun, 24 September 2011.

16 See Gavan McCormack, “Deception and Diplomacy: The US, Japan, and Okinawa,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, 23 May 2011.

17 The Nakaima speech seems to have been printed in full only in the Okinawan media, and covered only briefly elsewhere. See full text in English in Satoko Norimatsu, “Okinawa Governor Nakaima: An Irreparable Rift in Okinawa/Japan/US Relations would result from forceful construction of Henoko base.” Peace Philosophy Centre, 22 September 2011.

18 “Unrealistic promise on Futenma,” Japan Times, 24 September 2011.

19 “Okinawa Governor denies a Japan-U.S. deal on US military realignment package,” Ryukyu shimpo, 26 September 2011 (in English).

20 On the statement by Senators Levin, MacCain and Webb, see Gavan McCormack, “Deception and Diplomacy,” op.cit.

21 The Government of Japan agreed early in 2010 to continue these payments at the 2009 rate of Y188 billion per year for five years. At today's exchange that means approximately $2.4 billion per year, $12 billion over the five years.

22 “‘Bei kokubo kengen hoan’ Futenma minaoshi no michi hirake.”

23 “Nichibei shuno kaidan, min-i hitei shite minshushugi ka,” editorial, Ryukyu shimpo, 23 September 2011.

24 See, for example, “Genba gaisho hatsugen, fumitsukete iru no wa dare ka,” Ryukyu shimpo, 7 September 2011.