@ gf0012-aust

 

>  The DPJ's approval rating was 43 percent, up one percentage point from the previous survey, while the rating of the Liberal Democratic Party was down to 18 percent from 19 percent.

DPJ - 43%

LDP - 18%

 

LDP doesn't pose a significant threat to DPJ yet.

So now (Dec 27) Hatoyama is chickening out:

 

 

I wonder if this is more economic than political? 8000 marines and their families leaving Okinawa would leave a huge economic hole on the island. It will be interesting to see if those benefiting from the monies spent by the US there will win out over those campaigning to have them leave (who are likely well funded by those who seek to develop the land the US military would abandon - as we've seen in other countries).

This is the latest on US military in Okinawa. From NHK World.

 

Rhe result of the mayoral election in Nago City, Okinawa, may put additional strain on the Japan-US relationship.

Relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to Nago city was agreed on by the 2 nations after years of negotiations.

However, Nago residents elected Susumu Inamine who ran on the platform of opposing the existing relocation plan.

Before the election, US officials maintained that an issue related to national security should not be affected by the result of a local election.

The US side urged the Japanese government to relocate functions of the Futenma air station to Nago city under the bilateral agreement, regardless who becomes city mayor.

Following the Inamine's election victory, the US position on the Futenma issue is expected to remain same, at least officially.