Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi, and Sankei wrote that Defense Minister Kishi held talks with Okinawa Governor Tamaki at the governor’s office on Thursday and called for his understanding of the GOJ project to relocate the functions of MCAS Futenma to Henoko, Nago. The papers wrote that the two officials remained at odds over the issue because Tamaki insisted that the relocation plan should be suspended, while Kishi reiterated the GOJ’s position that Henoko is the only solution. Kishi reportedly expressed a negative view about Tamaki’s request to include Okinawa in the GOJ’s discussions with the United States on the matter. 

In a related story, Sankei wrote that Kishi faces several difficult issues including Futenma relocation, the selection of an alternative for the canceled Aegis Ashore deployment, and host nation support negotiations with the United States.