Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

No more US military bases: Japanese hunger striker demands expulsion

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 May 2022 17:57
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

After an abduction and rape incident in 1995, the island has expressed increasing rejection of the presence of US bases.

  • x
  • The US marine airbase in Okinawa - right in the middle of the city.
    The US marine airbase in Okinawa - right in the middle of the city.

Jinshiro Motoyama placed a banner outside the Japanese prime minister's office, sat on a folding chair, and went on a hunger strike. Motoyama demands the end of the US military presence in his birthplace, Okinawa.

Though Okinawa is a speck in the ocean and accounts for only 0.6% of Japan's entire land, 70% of US military bases in Japan are centered there, in addition to 47,000 troops.

On Sunday, the island will mark its fiftieth year since Japan returned its sovereignty after US control; however, Motoyama is not in a mood for celebration.

“The Japanese government wants there to be a celebratory mood, but that is not possible when you consider that the situation over US bases is still unresolved,” the 30-year-old graduate student, on his fifth day of hunger strike, said.

He argued that over the past half a century, the island is still being treated like a 'quasi-colonial outpost.' 

  • Jinshiro Motoyama speaks at a news conference in Tokyo urging an end to the construction of a new military base in Henoko.  (Shutterstock)
    Jinshiro Motoyama speaks at a news conference in Tokyo urging an end to the construction of a new military base in Henoko. (Shutterstock)

“The biggest issue since reversion to Japan, and since the end of the second world war, is the presence of US military bases, which have been disproportionately built in Okinawa.”

Related News

What is Netanyahu smoking? Araghchi slams Israeli influence over US

Pentagon official assessment shifted US focus from Ukraine to China

A US marine corps airbase, Futenma, has sparked anger and controversy on the island. The airbase is located right in the middle of a densely populated city. Inhabitants are complaining that the base will destroy the delicate marine ecosystem in the area, in addition to threatening the safety of about 2,000 residents. 

This frustration surfaced particularly after 1995 when three US servicemen abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl in Okinawa. 

The year after, Japan and the US agreed to decrease US military presence by moving Futenma's personnel and military hardware to Henoko. 

Denny Tamaki, Okinawa's anti-base governor, promised to fight the Henoko move - this was backed by more than 70% of voters in a 2019 referendum, which organization was helped by Motoyama.

Tamaki is the son of a Japanese woman and a US marine whom he has never met. This week, he met with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida, demanding that he resolve the issue through dialogue. 

A local poll showed that opposition to US presence on the island was strong. Published in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, the poll showed that some 61% of the locals want fewer US bases on the island, whereas 19% said they were satisfied with the situation.

“I believe there is a risk that Okinawa could again become the scene of a battle,” Motoyama said referring to an invasion by US troops in April 1945 in which 94,000 civilians – about a quarter of Okinawa’s population – died, along with 94,000 Japanese soldiers and 12,500 US troops.

“I want people to think about why I’m having to do this,” he said. “However loudly Okinawan people make their voices heard, no matter what they do, they are ignored by the Japanese government. Nothing has changed in 50 years.”

Okinawa is a target, and not a cornerstone of deterrence, especially taking into consideration the rising tensions in the Asian region, according to professor emeritus Masaaki Gabe, who was 17 by the time the US occupation finished. “Okinawa will be the frontline in the case of a war or conflict between Japan and China,” Gabe said. “After 50 years, the insecure feeling still continues.”

  • United States
  • Japan
  • US Military Base
  • Okinawa
  • US
  • US Base
  • hunger strike
  • Jinshiro Motoyama

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS