Fifty years after Japan regained dominion over Okinawa, the island prefecture’s young people are more accustomed than their parents and grandparents to the U.S. military presence on the island.
Fifty years after Okinawa s return to Japanese control, 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan remain concentrated in the island prefecture. But local attitudes toward the presence of the bases appear to be changing.
Younger Okinawans have become more tolerant of U.S. military bases stationed in the prefecture, a trend reflected in the Nago mayoral election won by incumbent Taketoyo Toguchi, a researcher of Okinawa issues said.