Suga to visit Okinawa on Saturday

Poor Suga, he has to work on damage control after damage control, that including Hayashi who spoke on none of his business issues, Waiting to see Suga and Abe fire Hayashi who should be concentrating on TPP Agriculture issues.

But this Suga visiting Okinawa to see issues with his own eyes may help Okinawan frustrated people's mind a little bit easier.

Pretty slick move by the cabinet to send an errand boy giving their speech. . . But the final decision has already been written in stone.

@Wc626APR. 02, 2015 - 07:51AM JST Pretty slick move by the cabinet to send an errand boy giving their speech. . . But the final decision has already been written in stone.

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How about write your suggestion if you have any?

Suggestion? Okay, here's one. Abe is the PM. Onaga is a governor. Jpn/US have agreed on relocation efforts. Okinawa prob had no say in the relocation & support a defiant Onaga. That's what the whole debate is about. I suggest that onaga & supporters "deal with it" and get on with their lives.

@Wc626APR. 02, 2015 - 08:18AM JST Suggestion? Okay, here's one. Abe is the PM. Onaga is a governor. Jpn/US have agreed on relocation efforts. Okinawa prob had no say in the relocation & support a defiant Onaga. That's what the whole debate is about. I suggest that onaga & supporters "deal with it" and get on with their lives.

Thank you for writing your suggestion.

They are dealing now. They got complaining of its coral reef and they have to deal with Universal Studio ( Movie maker netertainment business - not Universal Entertainment Corp ) inquiry to create tourist attaction in Okinawa. They seem to be dealing to renew Okinawa economy right now.

I'm all for the boost to local economy & promoting their tourism industry. But these issues shouldn't supercede the Jpn/US security framework.

As far as the coral reef issue, it cannot be avoided. Those foundation blocks might indeed damage the coral (so the lobbyist & tree-huggers say) but still, the issue is political & not enviornmental. Very slick of the cabinet to initially use the Minister of Agriculture, Fishery to respond first. Today it is Suga though-

The best short term scenario will be for Onaga to decline to meet with Suga - to heat things up a little more.

Abe & Suga's refusal to meet Onaga last year was just childish and smacked of condescension.

The LDP have had decades to negotiate long term solutions, but have lacked a true acknowledgement of the feelings of most Okinawans and lacked the spine to challenge the Americans.

I feel if Okinawan people do not want US bases but an US movie company want to make their tourist attraction project, Okinawan people and Onaga should push their idea. Do nothing and wait what happens are very stupid idea.. Onaga should exolain his agenda to Suga who came to damage control of big mouth Hayashi who overstepped LDP gamble loving members who had to delay their casino bill again.

Suga to visit Okinawa on Saturday

why? Okinawa governor is in Tokyo already, (source J-news channels)

to explain the government’s stance on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station at Futenma to Henoko.

Everyone knows what the governor's stance is: That the Okinawan people - (who were colonised by Japan in the 1870s) should suck it up so the mainlanders can "sleep safe" at night. Now Abe and Suga may run roughshod over the wishes of the Okinawan people but that doesn't mean they're going to like it

@Christopher Glen

Locals do not dictate security policy, but this agreement takes 9000 marines off the island. Seems the government is doing all they can for Okinawa. Too bad Onaga is self-serving and making promises he doesn't have the legal authority to keep.

Yeah, go ahead and thumb me down.

Everyone knows what the governor's stance is

Actually government's stance.

Seems the government is doing all they can for Okinawa

Nope, they've been putting themselves first ever since they "acquired" Okinawa in the 1870s. Okinawans were used as cannon fodder by the IJA during the Battle of Okinawa, and since then they've been base-dependants due to the confiscation of their land for the bases. (Thus forcing people to work on them to make a living) If the Japanese government truly cared about the people of Okinawa, they would either shift the bases to mainland Japan - or get rid of them altogether

How about Marine bases to Iwakuni Marine base in Yamaguchi Ken? Only Abe's brother Nobuo Kishi;s Ward. Or peaceful Camp Pendleton near Disneyland if Quantico is too far to watch Japan? Hawaiians already negated.

Please, please show the conversation between Suga and Onaga LIVE ON TV!

I want to hear what is said.

We've had far too many lies, dirty tricks and deceit from the LDP.

Let EVERYBODY know what's going on!

@Bertie. We would all like to see that on TV, kinda like a live presidential debate nationally broadcasted.

As for the many lies, dirty tricks, snubbing & deceit- its not so unusual.

Wc626,

Agreed, but please, not like a live presidential debate. Those presidential "debates" that I've seen were about as real as professional wrestling.

I mean REAL transparency, not selected parts or rehearsed dialogue.

I would like to know EXACTLY what Suga and Onaga say to each other, not just the press release.

Cool, I respect that.

Cool, I respect that as well.

"I want to protest Suga and yell out at the top of my lings (censored). More than 80 percent of the Okinawa people are against this new base and soon the same number will be demanding the closure of ALL American bases. There is NOTHING the central government can do to change Okinawan peoples minds. With the disrespect given to our governor and continued disrespect paid by the Americans and Japanese something has to give. The people of Okinawa are against the continued American occupation. They are using their puppets the Japanese government to keep their hard won bases. I reject the American argument that they keep the people of Okinawa "free" when in fact they are the villains. How has China ever hurt the people of Okinawa? Since peaceful measures have been exhausted I pray the next step is not taken. Sad thing is the Americans are their own worse foe."

@Yuri: I am pretty sure Governor will discuss how much Japanese Central Govt will save a year by relocating Futema out of Japan. Mr Suga knows Omoiyari FUnd each year is too much paying to USA. Mr. Suga cming to Okinawa so that he can argue with other LDP like he had a shouting match against Comfort women denying :LDP member a few years ago . /

Is it really necessary to "explain" the government's position again? It is basically this: "we will build the new base in Henoko and we don't care what you think". It certainly won't be built anywhere LDP voters live.

Scrote, Japan is suppose to be a country run by democratic principles. The USA is using their puppet government to get its way. After all the laws impending their government are only valid at home. So they are helping the Japanese majority to subjugate the Okinawa minority. Really think the Okinawa government needs to go to the United Nations.

US military bases are too much burden to Japanese taxpayers. US shouldn't take advantage of Japan's weak position.

Scrote, Japan is suppose to be a country run by democratic principles.

And it is. The majority elected the LDP to power and they agreed to keep the bases in Okinawa. Secede from Japan if you wish, but one can hardly say its 'undemocratic' because a majority of a minority group are unhappy with the direction of the national government. This is how a democracy works.

US military bases are too much burden to Japanese taxpayers. US shouldn't take advantage of Japan's weak position.

What weakness? Japan saved the world, isn't that what you were saying?

Tina Watanabe: It is Japan that saved USA from Lehman shock. It is Japan that saved SK from currency crisis, It is Japan that saved EU, it is Japan that paying the most to UN. http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/japans-long-wait-to-address-u-s-congress#comment_1952545

Well, which is it?

cardsfan5, Japan's weak position to US. J govt is afraid of saying anything to US, so very obedient to whatever US demands.

cardsfan5, Japan's weak position to US. J govt is afraid of saying anything to US, so very obedient to whatever US demands.

Well how can that be when you were just saying how Japan saved the EU, SK, and the UN? Are you saying that's not true?

Well, I can say that its not entirely true to say that Japan is afraid of saying anything to the US as the TPP has yet to be ratified.

@cards5: Because China declared that it will not purchase US Bonds but Japan will continue to purchase, we in USA knows Japan has the strongest position. Japan is now becoming the top US bond holder instead of China, US lawmakers have been aware of situations. Now they even have to invite Abe to flatter Japan. Also, Dem top man Harry Reid is quitting very soon, Japan has stronger position. So, you are right,

@YuriOtaniAPR. 04, 2015 - 10:28AM JST cardsfan5 the US military would put down any attempt at succession at the "request" of the government of Japan. The American troops would leave their bases and declare martial law. They will arrest the entire Okinawa government and any others that may cause a problem. Succession can not work and most Americans would never know. So the people of Okinawa have done everything possible and it is not enough. Okinawa continues to remain under American military occupation.

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Please write following info if what you write has some fact. ! What USA Martial :Law based on which law and constitution, 2, When and where USA practiced your Martial Law? Is there precedence of Marshal Law in any of its territory or any State in where all residents were arrested? How many.? Which Jails? Capacity of jails?

Do US has enough money to feed all Okinawan jailbirds every day???

As I had suspected, the meeting today with Onaga and Suga was as open and transparent as a TPP negotiation. In other words, closed, locked, barred and no press allowed.

After the initial handshake for the cameras and token "return" of a tiny plot of land in Futenma, the doors closed and we have no idea what was said.

More of the same!

toshiko, Japan is forced to buy US Bonds. Do you think they care? It's ridiculous to think Japan has power over USA. Japan is practically USA colony. Japan is forced to pay more than 7 Billion USD for US military a year bigger than all other countries combined, US bases are all over Japan more than 130 places. US soldiers are more than 50,000 people.

@tina: US Bonds are purchased by Japan and Japan Inc because they are good investment. Right now, USA can not afford to move out bases from Okinawa. Universal Movie Studio in Burbank has a big plan to create entertainment park in Okinawa. I read that its plan include huge Park including water slide system that entertain children. Also other companies have plan (imagination?) after Japan gets rid of bases in Okinawa. Reasd any of newspapers in a major cities to find US lawmakers have been struggling how to do in Afghan. Just NY Times or LA times. Or wall Street Journal for money matters. Unlike Japan, there is no national newspapers. Colony? Japan Inc dominate US Industries except defense industry. Japan Inc is operating in USA just like USA is Japanese colony. Visit NY or LA, even TX or NJ states. You will find different. Seeing is believing, Imaging from Japan is not the way you will see what USA is.

toshiko, If US bonds were good investment, why did China stopped? Zero interest. When was the last time you were in Japan? Most of the things you talk about Japan are so far from reality.

tina: China decided to dominate area economy with AIIB and so it stopped to invest to USA A few months ago I went to Japan as I have properties in Japan and also have to chck my business. Last time, I did not have a time to write on JT. Every year, I have to go to Japan. Also I stay in USA for my business that I created after I retired years ago. Sometimes, I have to visit SE Asia . for China, one of my daughter visit because our city (in NV) hates cold weather and they don;t eat with chopsticks. I have to go Japan because my daughters do not speak Japanese and my property and business wll be theirs. Tinal you write about USA with your guesses, At least I visit Japan about two months every year. .