Okinawa Times wrote that the Okinawa police arrested a contract worker belonging to Kadena AB on Oct. 10 on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Law by driving under the influence of alcohol early in the morning on Oct. 10 in Chatan. According to the police, the suspect has admitted the charge, and alcohol three times the admissible level was detected on….Read more

Yomiuri and Sankei wrote that Okinawa Governor Onaga on Tuesday clarified his earlier comment made over the weekend “welcoming” Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga’s explanation that the GOJ will negotiate with the U.S. to realize the return of the Northern Training Area this year by saying “it was not appropriate.” Base opponents, most of whom are strong supporters of Onaga, were….Read more

Okinawa Times reported on Monday that Governor Onaga’s comment on Saturday “welcoming” Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga’s explanation that the GOJ will negotiate with the U.S. to realize the return of the Northern Training Area this year has caused a stir. Base opponents, most of whom are strong supporters of Onaga, think that he may have been endorsing the construction of helipads,….Read more

Saturday morning’s Ryukyu Shimpo claimed in its lead story that the USG has agreed that the Japanese police should exercise investigative authority at the Northern Training Area in order to crack down on protestors and ensure that the helipad construction goes smoothly. The U.S. side is reportedly set to allow the local police to arrest base opponents inside the NTA if necessary….Read more

The purpose of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga’s visit to Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday was to indicate again the central government’s strong intention to promote the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corp’s Futenma air station in Ginowan to the Henoko district in Nago in the prefecture, even as the government is continuing negotiations with the prefectural government.   In September,….Read more

The Japanese government is negotiating with the U.S. side with a view to realizing the return of part of an area used for U.S. military training in the northern part of Okinawa Prefecture, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga in Naha Saturday.   While welcoming the central government’s move, Onaga said he wants to discuss “various….Read more

NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. – A U.S. Navy sailor based in Okinawa was arrested Sunday after failing to report a traffic accident to police.   Arrested by the Okinawa Prefectural Police Department for an alleged violation of the road traffic law was Petty Officer 1st Class Chang Son, 31, stationed at Kadena Air Base.   During questioning by police, Son denied….Read more