Japanese PM: U.S. military base will stay in Okinawa

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CNN

Tokyo, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama went back on a campaign promise and announced Sunday that a U.S. military base would remain in Okinawa.

He called his decision "heartbreaking."

"It is true that I said I wanted to relocate the facility outside of Okinawa," he said. "However, I'd like to apologize that the conclusion is not what the Okinawans wanted."

The U.S. Marine Corps Futenma base will be relocated to the Henoko area of the island, which is less densely populated, Hatoyama said.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/23/japan.okinawa.military.base/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

[msongs]

1. he knows what to do next to restore his honor. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I wish someone would tell me...

Why it is still there?

We are no longer at war; the occupation and rebuilding are done.

Bring them home!

[proteus_lives]

3. Cold War base.

Now, we still need a couple of bases to support operations in the Pacific in case things heat-up over Korea or Taiwan.

There are other, less vital, that could be closed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. OK, that makes sense.

Thank you!

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

4. why are we still in Japan?

1) Having lived in Japan, and now about to become an active duty military member, NONE of the other East Asian countries want to see Japan rearmed and potent enough to cause any trouble--as part of the U.S. drafted Japanese Constitution, Japan has renounced war forever. So while Japan does have a very good Self Defense Force, by law they cannot become an offensive capable country ever again.

2) With the history of past wars still fresh in everyone's minds, aLL of those same East Asian countries do NOT like Japan at all! Especially South Korea and North Korea. china surely hasn't forgotten either like it or not, the U.S. and Japan are now joined at the hip--which is why Prime Minister Katoyama is the one saying I'm sorry to the people of Okinawa and not President Obama.

If the U.S. were to suddenly just pack up and leave Japan, both Koreas and China would not wait a second to get some revenge.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Thank you.

This is a bit of history that I was unaware of.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

20. you're welcome!

It's true that Japan's Self Defense forces are very, very, VERY good! There was a future fighter jet project back in the late 1980s to early 1990s, the FX program as I recall; when Japan showed the original blueprint details to the U.S, the Japanese government was TOLD straight up ,"you will NOT build anything like this...", and indeed they went back to the drawing board. Back to the current situation--while PM Katoyama was hedging his bets about what to do with Futenma (he basically made a campaign promise to shut it down and relocate the base outside of Okinawa, even if it were the worst option), you can imagine what the U.S. government told him ,"you have an obligation to keep with US...". So despite having more than enough technology available and national pride just waiting to be tapped, Japan won't be changing over into a nuclear military power. That's for the U.S. .

Having said that, if shit hits the fan, you can bet Japan has something locked up and ready to use!

[Bonobo]

21. PM Katoyama???

Is he related to President O'hara of the USA?

[Bonobo]

7. Ridiculous.

"If the U.S. were to suddenly just pack up and leave Japan, both Koreas and China would not wait a second to get some revenge."

I have never heard such a silly statement.
First of all, Japan has a large and powerful navy.
Second, Japan has extensive missile bases. A close friend of mine, a former Marine officer and now working for Raytheon, operates one in Northern Japan so I know a little of what I am speaking of.
Third, Japan has powerful alliances with the Western powers and no one would dare to invade (even if they could) for fear of reprisal. This is true with or without the base in Okinawa.
Fourth, Japan's economic status alone insures that many would intervene against any country that threatened Japan.
Finally, you are mistaken if you think that Korea and China would "not wait a second to get some revenge". The world that you think exists has not been around for 40 years. Today's Asia is much more international and the level of hate you imply simply does not exist.

[charlesg]

12. Japan is capable of producing their own nuclear weapons in six months

if they decide to go nuclear. This is common knowledge.

[Bonobo]

14. I am quite certain you are correct, sir. nt

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

18. I think you're missing the point

During Word War Two, Japan committed alot of war crimes all over East Asia--you can't name one country in the region who doesn't have a serious beef with them. While currently things are much more diplomatic, you will see alot of bad blood of you ever say the word "Japan" in say, South Korea. There's a real hatred just waiting to be tapped, and trust me, that's why the U.S. is still there. If we decided to leave, the very next day BOOM.

And I almost forgot--Japan has NEVER apologized for their actions in World War Two.

[Bonobo]

19. I know all that, but you have simplified it to a Hannah Barbera cartoon version of reality.

The US is not there to protect anyone but their own interests and no, no one is going to attack Japan as soon as the US leaves (which they won't do).

Japan HAS apologized repeatedly for their actions in WW2 BTW.

As far as trusting you about your knowledge of Japan, I think I will pass.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

22. tell that to the North Koreans

They're the ones who have "test fired" their ceraky but still dangerous ballistic missiles right over mainland Japan.

[Bonobo]

23. Fine, I will grant you North Korea, but they hate EVERYONE. nt

[Bonobo]

8. "Chinese tourists lift retail sales at struggling department stores"

Monday, May 24, 2010
Kyodo News

Chinese tourists lift retail sales at struggling department stores

Foreign tourists — especially Chinese — have been the only bright spot in an otherwise gloomy retail sector this spring, according to the Japan Department Stores Association.

Purchases by non-Japanese were 2.2 times higher in February, when the Chinese New Year is usually observed, compared with the same month last year, it said. The figure for April rose 37.3 percent to ¥2.4 billion.

About 80 percent of the stores' foreign customers are from mainland China, where rapid economic growth is boosting incomes in some regions, the association said.

Also, last year's easing of visa requirements for Chinese visitors has pushed up Chinese patronage, the association said.

The only thing the Chinese are attacking are Japanese department stores in Ginza.

:rofl:

[AsahinaKimi]

9. You might be interested in this documentary ..

Japan's About Face

http://video.pbs.org/video/1167537304/

Program: Wide Angle
Episode: Japan's About Face

Japan's About-Face is a remarkable window into the shifting role of the military in post-war Japanese society. WIDE ANGLE acquired unprecedented access to the National Defense Academy, Japan's "West Point." We follow cadets preparing for a future that may involve overseas deployment, and meet with a group of peace activists on a grueling two month, 750-mile protest march from Hiroshima to Tokyo.

[Bonobo]

15. rinku wo arigatou. ato de miru ne.

[Tailormyst]

13. Because we are obligated to protect Japan.

The United States Forces in Japan, or USFJ (在日米軍, Zainichi Beigun?) refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces for maritime defense, ballistic missile defense, domestic air control, communications security (COMSEC) and disaster response operations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forces_Japan

[Bonobo]

16. Although that is technically true, I think it would be more accurate to say...

that the US has its armed forces in Japan so that it can project its own power, for its own purposes, into the Eastern hemisphere.
No serious person here really believes that the US has any magnanimous sense of responsibility to protect Japan, and I daresay that if the shit came down, the US would be watching its own ass well before it worried about protecting anyone here.

[ShamelessHussy]

10. He was foolish to make promises that he could never keep, we will NEVER surrender our bases there

until we go bankrupt... which is right around the corner, patience grasshopper ;)

[Bonobo]

17. Quite right. I agree completely. nt

[annm4peace]

11. Close the bases in Japan, and send the troops to Iraq/Afghanistan

and then send all our National Guard's Home.

Last week MN announced over 2000 National Guard are heading back to Iraq.

For some Guard it is their 5th tour. How can their families or their jobs survive that.

It is sickening.

[TheWatcher]

24. I have a better idea.

End these Damn Wars and BRING EVERYBODY HOME.

The madness needs to end.