Mayor in Okinawa Seeks Safety of U.S. Military Aircraft

May 24, 2018

Washington- Atsushi Sakima, mayor of Ginowan in the southern Japan prefecture of Okinawa, said Wednesday that he has urged U.S. officials to ensure the safety of U.S. military aircraft.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Sakima said he has pressed for improved safety following a recent series of accidents involving U.S. military aircraft in Okinawa, including a window frame fall onto a school ground in his city in December.

The U.S. side explained that system improvement had been made to ensure safety, he said.

The mayor said he has also called on the United States to return the site of the Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Ginowan at an early date and to reduce the local burden of hosing the military base.

Sakima said he also has called for U.S. cooperation in utilizing the Futenma site after the return.

He met with senior State and Defense department officials as well as House lawmakers during his U.S. trip that began on Monday.

The mayor said it was very meaningful for him to directly brief U.S. officials about the situation in Ginowan. Jiji Press