TOKYO (Kyodo) — Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said Friday he accepts the US military's deployment of MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft at Futenma Air Base, marking a reversal of the local government's years-long opposition to the presence of the tilt-rotor aircraft.
The statement comes as Japan's central government and the US side continue to maintain plans to deploy Ospreys in Okinawa, despite safety and noise concerns previously raised by the prefecture. Governor Koja's change of position is seen as a significant shift in relations between the local government and the central government over military base issues.
Okinawa had previously been at the forefront of moves opposing the Osprey deployment, citing concerns about the aircraft's safety as well as its impact on the lives of residents around the bases. Futenma is one of the key US military bases in Okinawa, which hosts the majority of American military facilities in Japan.
Details on the specific scope and timing of the deployment have not been fully announced. However, Governor Koja's decision is expected to facilitate the next steps in maintaining Osprey operations in the area.
