Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine sees the upcoming Group of Eight summit as one step toward prosperity in his prefecture, which he said Friday has long been neglected and sacrificed for the economic growth of mainland Japan.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, he said the summit to be held in Nago, northern Okinawa, in July would bring "immeasurable economic effects" to Japan's southernmost -- and poorest -- prefecture over the long term.
Inamine said, for example, the press center for the G8 summit will contribute to the future growth of information industries and tourism facilities. High-class hotels built for the event will upgrade the leisure industry.
As for his demand that the U.S. military's use of a new airfield to be built in Nago be limited to 15 years, Inamine said it is a realistic and minimum request of Okinawans.
"We are afraid most that the presence of U.S. bases (in Okinawa) will become permanent. That's why we are sticking to this (demand)," he said. Inamine says the 15-year limit is his condition for accepting the central government's plan for the new airfield, which is to take over the U.S. Marine Corps helicopter operations at Futenma Air Station in Ginowan.