A 24-year-old plan to build a controversial airport on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture took a step forward Saturday, despite lingering concerns that the project could jeopardize the island's rich natural environment, including a world-famous coral reef.
An advisory panel to Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine on Saturday proposed a hilly area around Mount Karadake on the eastern part of the island as the site for the airport, which is estimated to cost 44 billion yen.
Inamine will soon make a final decision based on the panel's choice. He said he was "very happy" about the decision.
The prefecture initially floated the airport plan in 1976 citing increased demand for air travel to the island.