PRESS CONFERENCE
"Hunger Strike Against Henoko on 50th anniversary of Okinawa's Return to Japan"
Jinshiro Motoyama, Former Representative of "Henoko" Okinawa Prefectural Referendum
11:00-12:00 Friday, May 13, 2022
(The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)
As Japan prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return, the presence of U.S. bases there continues to create controversy. Today, 70 percent of all U.S. military bases in Japan are located in Okinawa, despite decades of demands by residents to lighten the base burden by moving them elsewhere.
In addition, strong opposition has long stalled the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to an offshore replacement facility at Henoko, on the northern end of the main island. In February 2019, Jinshiro Motoyama helped lead a prefectural referendum on the issue. Though legally nonbinding, it showed that 72 percent of respondents were opposed the Henoko facility's construction. Yet the project continues to move forward despite growing doubts, even in the U.S., the Henoko facility will be operational anytime in the foreseeable future.
Angry that the 2019 referendum has failed to move the national government and upset by Tokyo's apparent disregard for democracy, Motoyama has launched a hunger strike in front of the Diet building. Join FCCJ as he offers his views on the situation with Henoko, and the presence of U.S. bases in the prefecture.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/SjeBDzxPWZzeAKY38
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.
Professional Activities Committee