Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto proposed to the central government Thursday that some MV-22 Osprey flight drills be conducted at Yao Airport in Osaka Prefecture.
"We in local government can't judge whether or not Yao could accept the Ospreys for training. That's the job of the Japanese and American governments," Hashimoto said following the meeting regarding the hybrid transport aircraft, which are based at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa.
"But unless local governments on Honshu speak up and ask for such discussion, it will never begin, and Okinawa's base burden will not be reduced."
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