Okinawa Base Problem Solution Equals Removal

Ritsuki Kuninaka

Former Defence Minister Satoshi Morimoto observed in December of 2012 that, “the base that will be relocated from Futenma in Okinawa doesn’t have to be in Okinawa for military reasons but Okinawa is the best place to be it for political reasons.” In other words, Morimoto admitted publicly that the bases do not necessarily have to be in Okinawa. This statement was made when the Japanese central government had asked all prefectures in Japan about whether they can accept relocating the American base from Futenma, but it turns out that no other prefecture agreed and offered to host. The reason is obvious: everybody knows that having bases isn’t good.

First, you often hear that the economy in Okinawa is supported by subsidies from bases. But this is wrong. The locations on Okinawa where bases had been and were since returned have brought great economic benefits. Shintoshin in Naha City used to be Makiminato residential district for American forces, which was returned to Okinawa control in 1987. According to a government report, that return of land had an economic effect that was 12 times more than when it was a residential district for the U.S. military. Also, Hamby Airfield in Chatan town was returned to Okinawa in 1976, and the return of land there has had an economic effect that was 169 times more than before. These facts clearly show that the myth of the local economy supported by subsidy from the bases is not true. The reverse happens to be true: it is better not to have bases for the sake of the local economy in Okinawa.

Secondly, two outrageous incidents occurred in recent years that illustrate the problem. First, in 1995, three American service members (two Marine and one Seaman) kidnapped a 12-year-old elementary school girl and raped her in the back of their rented car. While this unbelievable outrage occurred, the guilty party were not even taken into custody because America had worked out an agreement with Japan under Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). This fact made people in Okinawa extremely angry and so a social movement called “沖縄県民総決起大会” began against the bases as a demonstration in Ginowan City. 

Another incident also occurred when a huge helicopter crashed onto the campus of Okinawa International University in 2004. The military said that the helicopter only “grazed” a building, but this is what parents would call a lie. Fortunately, nobody died because the crash happened during summer vacation when very few students were on campus. Immediately after this incident, though, American forces restricted Okinawan police from even entering the crash site where it happened and the military removed all of the evidence that might explain exactly how the crash had occurred. So Okinawa police weren’t able to collect proof or conduct any research on the incident. Although many matters happen in Okinawa because of American forces, there are restrictions against what Okinawa can and can’t do with SOFA or American forces.

Third, the American bases themselves were constructed on Okinawa by the use of violent force, so many people during that time were forced out from their homes and towns. This happened in the Isahama district (present Ginowan City). Houses were destroyed by bulldozers and residents had to leave their homes to open space for a new military base. When I talked to people who lived there about when they were taken from their homes, they said, “We were hurt. We haven’t seen the beach in Isahama since that happened.” I was very sad to hear people tell their stories about they witnessed. And another example, many Okinawan tombs are on bases. The families need to visit their ancestors’ tombs during the Obon festival in Japan. The Obon festival is especially important for Okinawa when people can visit the tombs, clean, and rejoice as families do. But people whose family tombs are on the bases need to write applications to the American forces to acquire permission to enter. This means that they cannot go to their tombs whenever they want to go. These things show people in Okinawa have been hurt mentally for a long time because of bases.

The political decision communicated by Satoshi Morimoto shows that the many bases in Okinawa do not reflect the kind of equality that Japan claims it stands for. Though the scale of Okinawa is 0.6 % of Japan’s landmass, Okinawa bears 73.9 % of all the foreign bases. Japan has been pressing its need to keep these bases on Okinawa for many years. But it’s not good for economy in Okinawa and people. Japan needs to think seriously about its policy toward the people here.

References

辺野古通信　December 26, 2012　原色防衛大臣、重要な発言「沖縄でなくても良い」地理学的には　From http://henoko.ti-da.net/e4197106.html

「駐留軍用地跡地利用に伴う経済波及効果等検討調査報告書」Heisei 19 March from http://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/site/chijiko/chian/futenma/documents/documents/h26_futenma_pamph_9-12.pdf