Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Friday he will again visit Kagoshima Prefecture to try to overcome strong local opposition to the government's plans to partially relocate the operations of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Tokunoshima Island.
Saturday's visit will be Hirano's second of the week, following a meeting with Tokunoshima's politicians Wednesday, when his pitch failed to win them over.
Local residents have gathered in their thousands to protest the government's proposal, but Hirano said he will continue to seek a breakthrough.