So that Marine base in Okinawa that the Japanese like to complain about so much? Well it’s not going anywhere for awhile. Good news for the base, and good news for Japan.

One of the many topics of conversation that went on between Obama and the Japanese government recently has been that darn base in Okinawa. The people of Okinawa want it removed, the US does not. I’m pretty sure the Japanese government doesn’t either.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has set a May deadline for settling a dispute that has overshadowed the 50th anniversary of the US-Japan security treaty. Almost 50,000 US military personnel are stationed in Japan, more than half living on Okinawa, 950 miles south of Tokyo.

I’ll be pragmatic. Okinawa doesn’t have a whole lot happening. It’s a major exporter of fruit to mainland Japan (very expensive fruit mind you). It’s a big destination for internal Japanese tourism (very expensive tourism). It’s got the military base. A base which pumps in a whole lot of money to the local economy.

Yes, there are problems between the base staff and the local Okinawan population. But removing such a big money maker seems very silly.

Via Bionic Blog