Protests have erupted in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, against the full-scale U.S. base relocation work in the Henoko coastal district. While some residents feel helpless, students and citizens’ groups are actively protesting against the project. The Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau has started the construction as part of the plan to move the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma air station to a new facility in Henoko.
Despite the ongoing protests, residents like Yoshikatsu Nakamura and his wife, Toshiko, express their disappointment at the inability to stop the construction. Another resident, Masayoshi Kyoda, shares a similar sentiment, emphasizing the gap between their ideals and the current reality. A woman in her 50s also acknowledges the challenge in persuading authorities to halt the project, noting a decline in local opposition due to aging populations.
As the construction progresses, the community remains divided between those who oppose the base relocation and the inevitability of the government’s decision. Despite the challenges, residents continue to voice their concerns and hopes for a reconsideration of the project.