Editing Okinawa Prefecture (section)

===Post-reversion history (1972–present)===
[[File:US military bases in Okinawa.svg|thumb|U.S. military facilities on Okinawa Island (in red)]]

The [[1995 Okinawa rape incident|1995 kidnaping, beating, and rape]] of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen triggered widespread protests in Okinawa. Reports by the local media of accidents and crimes committed by U.S. servicemen have reduced the local population's support for the U.S. military bases. A strong emotional response has emerged from certain incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-26 |title=US soldier charged in Okinawa for rape of minor |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwwdyye4vgo |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>  

Documents declassified in 1997 proved that both tactical and strategic weapons have been maintained in Okinawa.<ref name="APJ2014" /> In 1999 and 2002, the ''Japan Times'' and the ''Okinawa Times'' reported speculation that not all weapons were removed from Okinawa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20020515b9.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606022049/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20020515b9.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |title=Nuclear pact ensured smooth Okinawa reversion |date=May 15, 2002 |work=The Japan Times |first=Eric |last=Johnston }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155511/http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/edi/19990516.html 疑惑が晴れるのはいつか]{{in lang|ja}}, Okinawa Times, May 16, 1999</ref> On October 25, 2005, after a decade of negotiations, the governments of the U.S. and Japan officially agreed to move [[Marine Corps Air Station Futenma]] from its location in the densely populated city of [[Ginowan, Okinawa|Ginowan]] to the more northerly and remote [[Camp Schwab]] in [[Nago]] by building a heliport with a shorter runway, partly on Camp Schwab land and partly running into the sea.<ref name="economist">{{cite news |date=October 27, 2005 |title=No home where the dugong roam |url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5097132 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905210944/http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5097132 |archive-date=September 5, 2006 |access-date=September 7, 2006 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |quote=some of the bloodiest campaigns anywhere in the second world war were fought in Okinawa, and a third of the civilian population died.}}</ref> The move is partly an attempt to relieve tensions between the people of Okinawa and the Marine Corps.

Despite Okinawa prefecture constituting only 0.6% of Japan's land surface, in 2006 75% of all USFJ bases were located on Okinawa, occupying 18% of the main island.<ref name="economist" /><ref name="USMilitaryBases">[http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/hakusho_data/2006/2006/html/i4262000.html 沖縄に所在する在日米軍施設・区域] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001004730/http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/hakusho_data/2006/2006/html/i4262000.html |date=October 1, 2007 }}{{in lang|ja}}, Japan Ministry of Defense</ref>

In a poll conducted by ''The Asahi Shimbun'' in May 2010, 43% of the Okinawan population wanted the complete closure of the U.S. bases, 42% wanted reduction, and 11% wanted to maintain the status quo. Okinawan feelings about the U.S. military are complex.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-05-23 |title=asahi.com��ī����ʹ�ҡˡ���ŷ�ְ��߼������ˡ���̱������ȿ�С�ī����ʹ����Ĵ�� - ���� |url=http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0513/SEB201005130037.html |access-date=2025-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523062343/http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0513/SEB201005130037.html |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }}</ref>

In early 2008, U.S. Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] apologized after a series of crimes involving American troops in Japan, including the rape of a young girl of 14 by a Marine on Okinawa. The U.S. military imposed a temporary 24-hour curfew on military personnel and their families to ease the anger of local residents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/28/japan.usa |title=Rice says sorry for US troop behaviour on Okinawa as crimes shake alliance with Japan |date=February 28, 2008 |first=Justin |last=McCurry |newspaper=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308040714/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/28/japan.usa |url-status=live }}</ref> Some cited statistics that the crime rate of military personnel is consistently less than that of the general Okinawan population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080226zg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305003905/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080226zg.html |archive-date=March 5, 2008 |title=U.S. military crime: SOFA so good?The stats offer some surprises in wake of the latest Okinawa rape claim |first=Michael |last=Hassett |date=February 26, 2008 |work=The Japan Times}}</ref> However, some criticized the statistics as unreliable, since violence against women is under-reported.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genuinesecurity.org/partners/report/Okinawa.pdf |title=Okinawa: Effects of long-term US Military presence |access-date=October 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726082729/http://www.genuinesecurity.org/partners/report/Okinawa.pdf |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> Between 1972 and 2009, U.S. servicemen committed 5,634 criminal offenses, including 25 murders, 385 burglaries, 25 arsons, 127 rapes, 306 assaults and 2,827 thefts.<ref name="Guardian110307">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/07/okinawa-japan-military-tension |title=Second battle of Okinawa looms as China's naval ambition grows |date=March 11, 2011 |first=David |last=Hearst |newspaper=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=August 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801003102/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/07/okinawa-japan-military-tension |url-status=live }}</ref> Yet, per [[Marine Corps Installations Pacific]] data, U.S. service members are convicted of far fewer crimes than local Okinawans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Documents/Ethos.pdf|title=米国海兵隊： 品位と名誉の精神|publisher=Marine Corps Installations Pacific Ethos Data|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223233725/http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Documents/Ethos.pdf|archive-date=December 23, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2009, a new Japanese government came to power and froze the U.S. forces relocation plan but in April 2010 indicated their interest in resolving the issue by proposing a modified plan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan moves to settle dispute with U.S. over Okinawa base relocation |first=John |last=Pomfret |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 24, 2010 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042305080.html |access-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191659/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042305080.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A study done in 2010 found that the prolonged exposure to aircraft noise around the Kadena Air Base and other military bases cause health issues such as a disrupted sleep pattern, high blood pressure, weakening of the immune system in children, and a loss of hearing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Cox|first=Rupert|date=December 1, 2010|title=The Sound of Freedom: US Military Aircraft Noise in Okinawa, Japan|journal=Anthropology News|language=en|volume=51|issue=9|pages=13–14|doi=10.1111/j.1556-3502.2010.51913.x|issn=1556-3502|url=https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-sound-of-freedom-us-military-aircraft-noise-in-okinawa(bd1a3f91-6c6c-46e5-a214-db1378c92156).html|access-date=November 21, 2021|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311061041/https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-sound-of-freedom-us-military-aircraft-noise-in-okinawa(bd1a3f91-6c6c-46e5-a214-db1378c92156).html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, it was reported that the U.S. military—contrary to repeated denials by [[The Pentagon]]—had kept tens of thousands of barrels of [[Agent Orange]] on the island. The Japanese and American governments have angered some U.S. veterans, who believe they were poisoned by Agent Orange while serving on the island, by characterizing their statements regarding Agent Orange as "dubious", and ignoring their requests for compensation. Reports that more than a third of the barrels developed leaks have led Okinawans to ask for environmental investigations, but {{As of|2012|lc=y}} both Tokyo and Washington refused such action.<ref>Jon Mitchell, [http://www.japanfocus.org/-Jon-Mitchell/3838 "Agent Orange on Okinawa – The Smoking Gun: U.S. army report, photographs show 25,000 barrels on island in early '70s"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123192055/http://japanfocus.org/-Jon-Mitchell/3838 |date=January 23, 2013 }}, ''The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus'', Vol 11, Issue 1, No. 6, January 14, 2012.</ref> [[Jon Mitchell (journalist)|Jon Mitchell]] has reported concern that the U.S. used American Marines as chemical-agent guinea pigs.<ref>Jon Mitchell, [http://www.japanfocus.org/-Jon-Mitchell/3868 "Were U.S marines used as guinea pigs on Okinawa?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213121129/http://japanfocus.org/-Jon-Mitchell/3868 |date=February 13, 2013 }} ''The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus'', Vol 10, Issue 51, No. 2, December 17, 2012.</ref>

On September 30, 2018, [[Denny Tamaki]] was elected as the next governor of Okinawa prefecture, after a campaign focused on sharply reducing the U.S. military presence on the island.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/opponent-of-us-military-bases-wins-okinawa-gubernatorial-election/2018/09/30/18f13d5a-c36a-11e8-9451-e878f96be19b_story.html?noredirect=on|title=Opponent of U.S. Military bases wins Okinawa gubernatorial election|first=Simon|last=Denyer|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 30, 2018|access-date=September 30, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030311/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/opponent-of-us-military-bases-wins-okinawa-gubernatorial-election/2018/09/30/18f13d5a-c36a-11e8-9451-e878f96be19b_story.html?noredirect=on|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Marine Corps Air Station Futenma relocation ====
{{Main|Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma}}

In 2006, some 8,000 U.S. Marines were removed from the island and relocated to [[Guam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/15356/|publisher=DOD|work=American Forces Press Service|author=Steven Donald Smith|title=Eight Thousand U.S. Marines to Move From Okinawa to Guam|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=August 1, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924194813/http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15356|url-status=live}}</ref> The move to [[Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz]] was expected to be completed in 2023 but as of 1 January 2025 is still in process. Japan paid for a majority of the cost to construct the new base.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-japan-okinawa-idUKL2E8FR0D920120427 |title=U.S., Japan unveil revised plan for Okinawa |date=April 27, 2012 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=April 28, 2012 |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620150431/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/usa-japan-okinawa-idUKL2E8FR0D920120427 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2009/2644/USF4.html|title=A closer look at U.S. Futenma base's 'relocation' issue|publisher=Japan Press Weekly|date=November 1, 2009|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113122927/https://www.japan-press.co.jp/2009/2644/USF4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The U.S. still maintains Air Force, Marine, Navy, and Army military installations on the islands. These bases include [[Kadena Air Base]], [[Camp Foster]], [[Marine Corps Air Station Futenma]], [[Camp Hansen]], [[Camp Schwab]], [[Torii Station]], [[Camp Kinser]], and [[Camp Gonsalves]]. The area of 14 U.S. bases are {{convert|233|km2|sqmi|0}}, occupying 18% of the main island. Okinawa hosts about two-thirds of the 50,000 American forces in Japan although the islands account for less than one percent of total lands in Japan.<ref name="USMilitaryBases" />

Suburbs have grown towards and now surround two historic major bases, Futenma and Kadena. A sizable portion of the land used by the U.S. military is Camp Gonsalves in the north of the island.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/08/19/travel/rumbles-in-the-jungle/#.V53t7COLTZs| title=Rumbles in the jungle| newspaper=The Japan Times Online| date=August 19, 2012| last1=Mitchell| first1=Jon| access-date=July 31, 2016| archive-date=September 10, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910165311/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/08/19/travel/rumbles-in-the-jungle/#.V53t7COLTZs| url-status=live}}</ref> On December 21, 2016, 10,000 acres of Camp Gonsalves were returned to Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1036252/us-returns-10000-acres-of-okinawan-training-area-to-japan|title=U.S. Returns 10,000 Acres of Okinawan Training Area to Japan|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|first=Jim|last=Garamone|date=December 21, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2016|archive-date=December 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222192639/https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1036252/us-returns-10000-acres-of-okinawan-training-area-to-japan|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 25, 2018, Okinawa residents held a protest demonstration at sea against scheduled land reclamation work for the relocation of a U.S. military base within Japan's southernmost island prefecture. A protest gathered hundreds of people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/06/58c834fec085-protest-held-in-okinawa-against-landfill-for-us-base-transfer.html|title=Protest held in Okinawa against landfill for U.S. base transfer|publisher=Kyodo News|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=September 30, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806013452/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/06/58c834fec085-protest-held-in-okinawa-against-landfill-for-us-base-transfer.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the early 2000s, Okinawans have opposed the presence of American troops [[helipad]]s in the [[Takae]] zone of the [[Yanbaru]] forest near [[Higashi, Okinawa|Higashi]] and [[Kunigami, Okinawa|Kunigami]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://okinawa-takae.org/index.php/takaes-story/ |title=Takae's Story |access-date=July 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220082950/http://okinawa-takae.org/index.php/takaes-story/ |archive-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> This opposition grew in July 2016 after the construction of six new helipads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2016/07/17/25465/|title=Tensions between protesters and riot police mount over construction of U.S. Marine Corps helipads in Takae|publisher=Ryukyu Shimpo|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722150749/http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2016/07/17/25465/|archive-date=July 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/07/22/national/politics-diplomacy/central-government-sues-okinawa-futenma-relocation/| title=Okinawa protests erupt as U.S. Helipad construction resumes| newspaper=The Japan Times Online| date=July 22, 2016| last1=Mie| first1=Ayako| access-date=July 31, 2016| archive-date=August 5, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805142651/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/07/22/national/politics-diplomacy/central-government-sues-okinawa-futenma-relocation/| url-status=live}}</ref>