Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki met with Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Minister Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, who is in Okinawa for the “Okinawan people’s funeral” for the late Governor Takeshi Onaga, at the prefectural government office on Oct. 9. This was the first time for Tamaki to meet with a minister of the Abe administration after he assumed office.

Tamaki said: “It is reassuring to have a minister in charge who is well-versed in Okinawa’s economic development.” He handed over a petition requesting budget allocations for Okinawa’s economic development and urging the government to abandon the plan to relocate the Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan) to Henoko, Nago, among other things.

Miyakoshi responded with: “I accept this solemnly and will consider your petition.”