April 30, 2010
Tokyo, April 30 (Jiji Press) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will visit the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on Tuesday to meet with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Friday.
Hatoyama is expected to explain to Nakaima a government plan to transfer part of the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Okinawa's Ginowan to ease the burden on the prefecture.
The Hatoyama government reportedly intends to modify the existing relocation plan for the Futenma base that calls for reclamation of an area of waters off the Marines' Camp Schwab in Nago, another Okinawa city.
The government hopes to move the helicopter unit of the Futenma base to Tokunoshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture, north of Okinawa.
Visiting Okinawa for the first time since taking office in September, Hatoyama hopes to gain Nakaima's understanding of the new plan.
(2010/04/30-13:26)
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