Koizumi says he will talk to Bush
about reducing U.S. bases in Okinawa
By Chiyomi Sumida, Okinawa
bureau
Koizumi |
ITOMAN — The U.S. military presence on Okinawa is one of the
issues the Japanese prime minister says he will bring up during talks with President Bush
this week in Washington.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made the remarks Saturday after a
ceremony to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa’s end.
He said that when he meets with Bush, he would “keep in mind the
wishes of the people of Okinawa” to reduce the footprint of U.S. bases on the island.
About 7,000 people were on hand at the ceremony at Peace Prayer Park.
Official guests included Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, the ranking general
on Okinawa and commanding officer of U.S. Marines in Japan, and several dozen U.S.
veterans, members of the 6th Marine Division Association.
Koizumi said he is aware that under the bilateral security
arrangement, Japan imposes a heavy burden on Okinawa.
The bases occupy one-fifth of the island and house almost half the
troops in Japan.
“Solving the various problems on Okinawa is one of the key tasks
of my administration,” Koizumi said.
Some Okinawa officials, including Gov. Keiichi Inamine, want Marines
to move some training to Guam or Hawaii. Family members of the war dead gave Koizumi a
standing ovation.
Mabuni Hill, where the park is located, is near the southern tip of
the island where the Imperial Japanese Army made its last stand during the 83-day battle.
More than 200,000 people died: Okinawa civilians, Japanese, Americans, British, Koreans
and Taiwanese.
Carlos Bongioanni / Stars and Stripes
A woman sits before a black granite marker that contains names of those who died
during the Battle of Okinawa. About 7,000 people attended a memorial service Saturday at
Okinawa's Peace Memorial Park to honor the 238,000 people who died during the 83-day
battle. |
Their names are inscribed on the Cornerstone of Peace, 114 black
granite monuments that spread like folding screens to the cliff edge.
About 200 names were added to the walls this year, bringing the names
on the monuments to 238,161.
“I came here to offer my prayer and respects to those who died
in the battle,” Koizumi said.
“For the same reason, I will visit Yasukuni Shrine on August
15.” That visit is sparking protest from Koreans and Chinese because the site is
dedicated to all of Japan’s war dead, including those found guilty of being war
criminals.
But his appearance on Okinawa was met with nothing but acclaim,
especially from those who attended the ceremony. “I think he attended the ceremony to
show us that he cares about Okinawa,” said Kazuko Senaha, 56, of Nakagusuku. “I
was overwhelmed,” said Masae Shimoji, 54, who flew from a neighboring island to
attend the ceremony.
“He came all the way down to Okinawa to pay his respect to the
war victims,” said Shimoji, who lost her brother in the battle. “It is very
thoughtful of him.”
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