Okinawa, Japan's subtropical prefecture, attracts tourists for its beauty but is burdened by a significant US military presence. Despite Japan's reliance on these bases for national security, many locals lament the US legacy of occupation. Recent incidents of violence by US personnel have reignited historical wounds, prompting large-scale protests. Furthermore, efforts to reduce the military footprint, such as returning Futenma base land, face obstacles. Local activists persist in their opposition to the military expansion, illustrating the ongoing tension between security needs and community safety.
When I passed by the site at Henoko Bay, about a dozen protesters had braved the rain to stage a sit-in against the military facilities.
The US presence feels more like a painful legacy of an occupation that keeps the island and its residents in chains.
Over 80,000 Okinawans took to the streets at the time to protest the US military presence.
The arrest of an American suspected of killing a local woman in 2016 also sparked massive protests.
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