Okinawa Prefecture reverses stance, accepts US Osprey deployment

NAHA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Okinawa Governor Genta Koja declared on Friday his acceptance of the United States military's MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft deployment at the Futenma air station, reversing decades-long opposition from his prefecture. Previous administrations, led by governors wary of U.S. military bases, had consistently opposed the aircraft's presence, citing safety concerns.

Koja, who took office recently, said he supports the plan to relocate the Futenma base from the densely populated Ginowan area to the coastal Henoko area in Nago within Okinawa. Koja argued that given the Self-Defense Forces operate the aircraft, there is no justification for retracting or questioning their deployment or use. The Osprey, capable of both vertical and horizontal flight, has a history of accidents both in Japan and abroad.