Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine urged the central government Friday to negotiate with the U.S. on a 15-year time limit on the U.S. military's use of an airport to be built in northern Okinawa Prefecture.
"I want the government to adopt a solid stance (on the issue) and negotiate with the U.S. government," Inamine told Defense Agency chief Kazuo Torashima in a meeting at the prefectural government building in Naha.
It was Torashima's first trip to the prefecture since he was appointed agency head in early July.
Inamine also said, "The people of Okinawa are afraid of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa being perpetuated. We urge the Japanese government to make up its mind."