Pressure To The Governor

The government of Japan took one step up to the relocation of Futenma US Marine Base to Henoko coast in Nago city. The Ministry of Defense submitted Nago Fisheries Cooperative a request of approval for landfill construction in Henoko. Although it is not necessary for the government, the request was an effort to get further consensus in Okinawa. It must be a pressure for the governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima, who has unequivocally rejected the alternative facility of Futenma base in Okinawa.

The focus of the Futenma issue now is when the national government submits the request of approval to Okinawa government. Nakaima, who is vested the authority to approve or dismiss the request, has been negative to allow the construction, because overall opinion in Okinawa was firmly against the relocation plan made both by Japan and US governments.

The national government took a strategy to begin with persuading fishermen, who will be affected by the construction of new military facility in Henoko. The officials of Defense Ministry seem to think that those fishermen will accept the construction, if the government compensate for the impact to fishery. The cooperative will discuss the request, and is expected to get their conclusion before the end of next month. If they approve, Defense Ministry will then submit the request to the governor.

When we think about the decision of Nakaima, it is necessary to understand his background. He was elected to the governor in November 2006, when current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the Prime Minister in his first administration. Nakaima then was the candidate supported by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, that are leading parties now. Although he changed his standpoint from “not negative” to “definitely negative” in his second election, Nakaima has originally been close to LDP.

To get the approval from fishery organization was something Nakaima had demanded to national government before the submission of landfill construction request. If the fishermen approve the request, one hurdle will be cleared. Nakaima actually stated that he would not reject the submission itself. His attitude toward national government is getting softer.

However, it is not easy for him to decide to approve the construction of Henoko facility. People in Okinawa will actively protest the decision. A resolution of non-confidence to the governor can be passed in the congress of Okinawa. One possibility is that Nakaima steps down after deciding to accept the construction, the same way of taking responsibility as a mayor of Nago who resigned after approving the relocation to Henoko.