
April 26, 2010
Tokyo, April 26 (Jiji Press) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama suggested Monday that he will respect the voice of people in Okinawa Prefecture in deciding where to relocate a U.S. Marine base in the southernmost Japan prefecture.
Referring to a rally in the Okinawa village of Yomitan on Sunday, Hatoyama told reporters that he regards this as an expression of public opinion.
In the rally, some 90,000 people called for removing the Futenma air station in Ginowan.
Hatoyama, who has pledged to resolve a dispute over the base by the end of May, also said that he will strive to reduce the burden on Okinawan people and remove the danger posed by the Futenma base.
Hatoyama declined to comment on steep falls in his cabinet's public support amid the prolonged standoff over the base.
(2010/04/26-13:31)