Government seeks local understanding of Futenma

August 22, 2010
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The Japanese government will continue to seek the understanding of the people of Okinawa regarding its plan to relocate a US base within the southern prefecture.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama made the remark on an NHK program aired on Sunday.

Fukuyama visited Okinawa earlier this month to brief officials of Okinawa Prefecture on a Japan-US agreement reached in May on the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan. The agreement calls for construction of a runway or runways to host some functions of the US base in the Henoko district in Nago, also in Okinawa.

Fukuyama said he understands Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima's refusal to accept the plan.

But he said he informed the governor of the ongoing bilateral talks on additional measures to reduce the burden of military bases on Okinawa. Fukuyama added that he will continue to seek local understanding of the relocation plan by making frequent visits to Okinawa.

Fukuyama also referred to the future of the relationship between Japan and the United States. He said that too much focus on the Futenma issue could derail the entire Japan-US alliance during the planned visit by President Barack Obama to Japan in November. He said he wants to see the visit as a start for building future bilateral ties through broader talks on how the 2 countries can cooperate with each other.

As for relief measures for rebuilding Afghanistan, Fukuyama has unveiled a plan to set up a taskforce at the prime minister's office to bolster Japan's relief program worth up to 5 billion dollars.

2010/08/22 14:30(JST)
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US may seek more host nation support

August 14, 2010
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A US defense expert says the United States may ask countries hosting US bases to help pay for a greater share of the cost of maintaining US troops.

Former Joint Chiefs of Staff advisor, Maren Leed, spoke with NHK on Saturday. Her comments follow US Defense Secretary Robert Gates' announcement of moves to streamline the US Defense Department.

In his announcement, Gates said the Joint Forces Command will be closed over the next 6 to 12 months.

He had earlier instructed the military to find more than 100 billion dollars in overhead savings over the next 5 years, which will be reinvested in military hardware.

He cited threats from Iran, North Korea and other countries and called for increased budgets to reinforce naval vessels.

Leed said Gates proposed the naval reinforcement because he wants to prepare against increasing threats from China.

Referring to some views that the Japanese government may reduce the amount of its share of the cost, Leed said the US government is certain to demand additional funding from Japan and other countries that host US bases.

2010/08/14 23:57(JST)
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Japan to return Korean kingdom archive

August 9, 2010
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Japan is planning to return to South Korea a set of historical documents detailing royal protocols of the Li Dynasty. Their return will be a show of remorse for Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The restitution of the archive will be mentioned in Prime Minister Naoto Kan's statement on the 100th anniversary of the annexation of Korea. The cabinet will approve the statement on Tuesday.

The archive records details of state ceremonies with illustrations. South Korea has been requesting the return of the documents, which were brought to Japan during its colonial rule that began in 1910 and ended in 1945.

The prime minister's statement will express deep remorse and a sincere apology for Japan's colonial rule and aggression.

Japan issued a similar statement in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

Some members of the governing and opposition blocs are against making a fresh apology.

But the government has decided to issue the statement, on the grounds that it will help the 2 countries build future-oriented relations.

2010/08/09 22:31(JST)
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Guam concerns about US Marines' shift from Okinawa

August 7, 2010
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The local government of Guam has shown concern over a possible expansion of land use under a plan to transfer 8,000 US Marines to the island from Okinawa, Japan.

The US military put together a final environmental impact report in July and suggested the move be completed in 2017, rather than in 2014, the time line which was agreed by the governments of Japan and the US.

The Guam local government, which basically accepts the move, has shown opposition to further expansion of the amount of land used by the military.

In a letter sent to the US military on Thursday, it opposed the construction of new facilities on the island, as one-third of it is already used by the military.

The local government stated that the US government had promised 4 years ago that there would be no further expropriation of land. It pointed out that there is some action to break the promise. It requested the military use existing facilities.

Some residents of Guam intensified their opposition to the transfer of the Marines recently.

The US government and local government are expected to work out their differences before the final decision will be made sometime in early September.

2010/08/07 13:05(JST)
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US official denies envoy's Hiroshima visit apology

August 7, 2010
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A senior US official has refuted comments on US media that the US envoy's attendance at the Hiroshima peace ceremony was an apology for the atomic bombing of the city.

Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley stated on Twitter on Friday that the United States has nothing to apologize for regarding Hiroshima, but that it will show its respect for everyone affected by war.

US Ambassador to Japan John Roos became the first government representative to attend the memorial ceremony in the western Japanese city on Friday, which marked the 65th anniversary of the bombing.

A US TV network aired an interview with the son of the pilot of the Enola Gay bomber accusing the Obama administration of giving an unspoken apology to Japan. The Enola Gay was the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Crowley stressed the US stance to place importance on an alliance with Japan. He said the US was proud to help Japan rebuild after World War Two, turning an adversary into a staunch ally.

2010/08/07 09:47(JST)
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Okinawa governor demands reduction of US forces

Okinawa governor demands reduction of US forces
Michael Penn, Press TV, Tokyo
Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:06:55 GMT
mms://217.218.67.244/presstv/20100806/OUTPUT_20-32-00-FTP-MICHAEL-TOKYO.wmv

Obama "Testing The Water" for Hiroshima Visit

Features
Aug. 6 on Air
http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/movie/feature23.html

Kan: nuclear deterrence necessary in this world

August 6, 2010
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Prime Minister Naoto Kan says nuclear deterrence is necessary for Japan, even though it maintains its non-nuclear principles.

Kan spoke to reporters on Friday after attending the annual ceremony held in Hiroshima to mark the 1945 US atomic bombing of the city.

He referred to a peace declaration delivered by Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba. The mayor called on Japan to get out from under the so-called nuclear umbrella, or security provided within the framework of the bilateral alliance with the United States, a nuclear superpower.

Kan said he agrees with the mayor on the need for nuclear disarmament and shares his wish that disasters like the 1945 atomic bombings never be repeated.

He stressed, however, that Japan needs nuclear deterrence in a world where weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are widespread.

But Kan reaffirmed that this government will continue to observe Japan's principles of not possessing, producing or allowing the entry of nuclear arms.

2010/08/06 12:54(JST)
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US to send aircraft carrier to Yellow Sea drills

August 6, 2010
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The US Defense Department says it will send a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Yellow Sea near China for joint military exercises with South Korea.

The US and South Korea are conducting a series of military exercises following the March sinking of a South Korean warship in the Yellow Sea, allegedly by North Korea.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters on Thursday that the joint drills will take place in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan and the USS George Washington will take part in the drills.

The exercises are said to be based on various assumptions, including a submarine attack. But detailed schedules have not been revealed.

Last month, China strongly objected to a US naval deployment in the Yellow Sea during the joint exercise. The US dispatched the George Washington to the Sea of Japan instead.

The US government takes the view that the Yellow Sea is an international waterway and China's opposition cannot be justified.

2010/08/06 12:29(JST)
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Hiroshima marks 65th anniversary of bombing

August 6, 2010
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Friday August 6th marks the 65th anniversary of the US dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

US Ambassador to Japan John Roos became the first official representing the United States to attend the annual ceremony in Hiroshima. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also attended.

The ceremony started at 8 AM, and a list with the names of the 269,446 bomb victims was placed in a cenotaph. The list grew by 5,501 from 2009 after including those who died in the past year or whose deaths were confirmed.

The participants observed a moment of silence at 8:15 AM, the exact time the bomb was dropped in 1945.

In his peace declaration, Hiroshima City Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba urged the Japanese government to take the leadership in concrete action aimed at the abolition of nuclear arms.

Representatives of 74 countries, the largest number ever, took part in the ceremony. The US, Britain and France, countries that have nuclear weapons, sent their envoys for the first time.

Hiroshima will hold various events throughout the day to promote peace and the elimination of nuclear arms.

2010/08/06 09:21(JST)
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NHK, KBS poll shows wide gap in sentiments

August 5, 2010
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A poll jointly conducted by Japan's NHK and South Korea's KBS TV shows a wide gap in public sentiments toward each country.

The poll shows that 62 percent of Japanese respondents have a favorable view of South Korea, while just 28 percent of South Koreans share that sentiment toward Japan.

The survey - the first of its kind - marks the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula. The poll focused on people aged 20 years or older who were interviewed from June 26th to July 4th.

In Japan 1,473 responded while in South Korea 1,000 responded. 25-percent in Japan said they don't like South Korea, while the figure among South Koreans was 71-percent.

On future bilateral relations, 53 percent in Japan urged stronger ties while 50 percent in South Korea wanted the same.

When asked to name a famous person of the other country, Japanese nominated actor Bae Yong Joon, who played the leading role in the TV drama "Winter Sonata."

Former President Kim Dae Jung, President Lee Myung Bak and figure skater Kim Yu Na were among others on top of the list.

In South Korea, Japan's first prime minister Hirobumi Ito topped the list. He was the first Japanese resident-general of Korea during Japan's colonial rule.
Major League baseball player Ichiro Suzuki and figure skater Mao Asada were among others in the top rankings.

2010/08/05 20:01(JST)
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S.Korea begins anti-sub military drill

August 5, 2010
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South Korea has begun a large-scale anti-submarine drill in the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula.

The 5-day drill began in waters off Taean in South Chungcheongdo in South Korea on Thursday.

4,500 personnel from the army, navy and air force are taking part in the drill along with 20 ships, including destroyers and submarines, and 50 aircraft.

The drill includes torpedo-firing practice and an exercise to be held on Baengnyeong Island to prepare for preventing landings by North Korean special forces.

The island is near the location of the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan in March that claimed the lives of 46 sailors on board. A South Korean-led international inquiry concluded that a North Korean torpedo caused the sinking. The North denies the allegation.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the drill is designed to improve the country's defense capability and discourage North Korea from engaging in further provocation.

North Korea on Thursday called the drill a deliberate provocation. The country's Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said in a statement that North Korea's people and military will mercilessly crush the provokers beyond imagination if they dare to set a fire.

On Tuesday, North Korea's military command overseeing the Yellow Sea border denounced the drill as an undisguised military intrusion and warned of powerful physical retaliation.

Last month, South Korea and the United States held a joint military drill in the Sea of Japan.

2010/08/05 16:46(JST)
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Sengoku to meet Nakaima to discuss Futenma base

August 5, 2010
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku will meet Okinawa prefectural governor Hirokazu Nakaima on Friday to discuss the relocation of the Futenma US marines' air base.

The Japanese and US governments agreed in May to build a base in a coastal area of the Henoko district of Nago City in Okinawa as an alternative to the Futenma facility.

The agreement stipulates that officials from both sides will work out concrete plans for the location and construction of the base runway by the end of this month.

Japan says close contact with the local administrations in Okinawa is vital to resolving the relocation issue and wants to set up a joint consultative body soon.

Sengoku plans to inform Nakaima of the government's policy. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Tetsuro Fukuyama and Kinya Takino are to visit Okinawa next week.

But opposition to the construction of the alternative base inside Okinawa is very strong.

Some insist that the proposed consultative body should discuss not only the relocation issue but also ways to reduce the burden of hosting US military bases on Okinawa, as well as stimulate the local economy.

2010/08/05 04:33(JST)
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US, Russia to hold joint air-terrorism drill

August 3, 2010
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The US and Russian air forces plan to conduct their first joint exercise next week to fight air-terrorism.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said on Monday that the joint drill is scheduled for 4 days from next Sunday on the premise that a commercial air carrier flying between the Russian Far East and Alaska was hi-jacked by terrorists.

Under the drill's scenario, the 2 countries' jet fighters will scramble to follow the commercial carrier. Fighters from one country will hand over the monitoring mission to those of the other, with civil aviation authorities from both countries taking part.

Airborne warning, interceptor and refueling tanker planes of the 2 nations will also join in.

The drill is part of the agreement US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed in June expanding areas of cooperation.

2010/08/03 14:46(JST)
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Kan hints delay to resolve Futenma

August 3, 2010
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Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has hinted that a final decision on relocating the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture may be postponed until after US President Barack Obama's visit to Japan and the Okinawa gubernatorial election, both scheduled for November.

He made the suggestion to reporters on Monday.

Kan said, as a basic stance, he will seek to resolve the Futenma issue in line with the Japan-US agreement reached in May. He said his aim will be to reduce as much as possible the burden carried by Japan's southernmost prefecture in hosting US bases. He said he is not thinking of settling the issue over the heads of the people of Okinawa.

Kan said he understands there are various political events scheduled for November, including US President Barack Obama's visit to Japan to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama. But he added that these schedules would not affect when or what his decision would be on the Futenma base issue.

In the May agreement, Japan and the US confirmed the relocation of the Futenma base to Camp Schwab's Heneko-saki area, also in Okinawa. The accord says that in order to achieve the earliest possible return of Futenma base, the replacement facility's location and construction method should be decided by the end of August.

2010/08/02 23:11(JST)
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Nakaima wants explanation of Futenma policy shift

August 2, 2010
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Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has called for a detailed explanation of the government's policy change on the relocation of the US air station in Futenma.

Nakaima and Land Minister Seiji Maehara held talks in Naha City, Okinawa, on Sunday. Maehara is also in charge of Okinawa affairs.

Maehara told Nakaima that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and 4 other ministers will work together in dealing with the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of the US Camp Schwab, which is also in Okinawa.

Referring to the government's suggestion of regular consultative meetings with Okinawa, Nakaima said he hopes the government is serious about its proposal.

He added that the prefecture has not received any detailed explanation of the policy change. Under the original plan, all the functions of the air station would have been transferred outside Okinawa.

2010/08/02 00:36(JST)
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Gov't seeks talks with Okinawa on base issues

July 31, 2010
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The Japanese government is planning to set up regular consultative meetings with the prefecture of Okinawa in the hope of resolving the stalemated relocation of a US base on the island.

The Japanese and US governments agreed in May to relocate the functions of US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa after Japan failed to find an alternative site outside Okinawa.

However, the people of Okinawa are demanding the base be moved off the island and remain strongly opposed to the plan.

Last week, at a meeting in Vietnam, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged that support of the Okinawan people is indispensable for a successful relocation of the base.

The Japanese government hopes that the regular meetings would mend the lack of communication between the government and Okinawa.

In response, Okinawa Prefecture is asking that promotion of the local economy be included on the agenda for the talks.

In the hope of starting pragmatic talks, the government will send an official to Okinawa as early as the middle of August to negotiate conditions which would reflect the thoughts of the Okinawan side.

2010/07/31 13:38(JST)
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Film about Swiss doctor who treated A-bomb victims

July 31, 2010
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A preview of an animated film about a Swiss doctor who treated survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima was held in Tokyo on Friday.

"Anime Junod" was produced by a Hiroshima-based peace organization. It depicts Dr Marcel Junod, who convinced allied forces in post-war Japan to transport 15 tons of medical supplies to Hiroshima so survivors could be treated.

In the film, his activities are seen from the viewpoint of junior high school girls who go back in time.

A short live-action film on Junod was made years ago. But the peace organization made an animated version so he will be known to a wider range of age groups.

Production committee head Shizuko Tsuya says she hopes that many people watching the film will think about peace and the courage needed to overcome difficulties.

Screenings will start at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in September. The committee will work to show the film in Switzerland and other countries.

2010/07/31 06:45(JST)
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Task force finds US records of Ioto burial sites

July 31, 2010
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A Japanese government task force says it has found US documents about burial sites of Japanese soldiers who died in World War Two battles on the Pacific island of Ioto, also known as Iwojima. The team will analyze the records to identify the sites.

In the final stages of the war in 1945, about 21,900 Japanese were killed during intense fighting with US forces on the island. The burial sites of 13,000 of them have not yet been found.

To locate their remains, the task force examined documents at the US National Archives and the US Department of Defense this week.

An advisor to the Prime Minister, Yukihiko Akutsu, heads the task force. He said on Friday that the team has found a document indicating there was a mass burial site for Japanese soldiers on the southern tip of the island.

The team also found records saying there were burial sites ranging in size from 200 to 2,000 bodies.

2010/07/31 06:45(JST)
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US panel calls for Navy buildup in Asia-Pacific

July 30, 2010
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A panel of US defense experts has proposed boosting the US Navy's presence in the Asia-Pacific, in the face of China's military buildup.

The independent panel released a report on Thursday after reviewing the Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review issued in February.

The panel comprised 20 members appointed by Congress, including former defense secretary William Perry and former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage.

The report says the panel is concerned that the US force level outlined in the quadrennial review might not be sufficient in the face of China's strengthening of its military.

The report calls for building up the Navy's presence in the Asia-Pacific, saying the United States must be fully present in the region to maintain stability and defend US allies in the area.

The US Defense Department is already shifting some Navy submarines and aircraft carriers from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The report calls for facilitating such efforts in light of the Chinese navy's stepped-up activities in the East and South China Seas.

2010/07/30 17:33(JST)
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NOTE: Click to download a pdf copy of "The QDR in Perspective: Meeting America's National Security Needs in the 21st Century" by the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel

Click for background information on the bipartisan congressional panel prepared by the United States Institute of Peace.