Kennedy touches base on Okinawa

US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy has made her first visit to the southernmost island of Okinawa, hoping to find support for a contentious plan to relocate a US military base.

On Wednesday morning, she met Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, who expressed hope they could work together on the base problem.

"There are various problems and tasks such as crimes, accidents as well as environmental issues and so on," he told Kennedy. "We would like to seek and urge your help so as to resolve the issue fundamentally and to reduce our burden of having US bases."

Earlier, Kennedy offered flowers at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, which honors those who died during the closing stages of World War II.

Nakaima supports the relocation of Futenma air station to the Henoko district of Nago, but many others are opposed, including Nago's mayor.

The plan is backed by the US government. Half of the 50,000 US troops in Japan are on Okinawa, which comprises less than 1 percent of Japanese territory.

Many Okinawans want Futenma closed and moved off the island.

Kennedy, who has drawn much attention as a celebrity since arriving in Japan last year, was due to visit a castle, a high school and attend an evening reception before leaving on Thursday.

More than 300 people rallied ahead of her arrival late on Tuesday to protest the base relocation plans, waving signs that stated, "No base".

"We as Okinawan people gave our answer many, many times that we don't want maritime bases here," said 47-year-old English-language teacher Kazue Nakamura-Huber.

The US has proposed a broad plan to consolidate and reduce its troop presence in Okinawa, including a 1996 agreement to move the Futenma air station to Henoko.

Twelve-year-old Wakana Toguchi said she hoped to show Kennedy the relocation site.

"And I must tell her not to build the base," she said.

Associated Press