Okinawa Times front-paged a report saying that the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa bureau plans to begin helipad construction work at the G and H areas in the Northern Training Area on Sept. 1 in addition to the ongoing work at the N1 area. Local protesters responded sharply to the plan and expressed readiness to step up their opposition.

In a related development, Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo wrote that three civic groups protesting the helipad construction at the Northern Training Area have decided to stage large-scale rallies every Wednesday and Saturday starting on Sept. 3. at the N1 gate, aiming to have as many as 300 people participate in each rally