Tokyo, Oct. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Okinawa Governor Genta Koja in Tokyo on Wednesday and expressed her willingness to talk with the United States following the arrest of a U.S. Marine for allegedly murdering a woman in the southern Japan prefecture on Saturday. During the meeting at the prime minister’s office, Koja said that the incident was “absolutely unacceptable” and demanded that the Japanese government urge the U.S. side to fully cooperate with the investigation and tighten discipline. This was the first meeting between Takaichi and Koja since the new governor was elected last month. Takaichi expressed strong indignation over the incident and said, “I want to hold further Japan-U.S. talks” to ensure the effectiveness of measures to prevent a recurrence. “Human rights education for U.S. service members has not worked at all,” Koja said, citing continued criminal incidents involving them in Okinawa. He proposed that the Japanese government become actively involved in education rather than leaveing it entirely to the U.S. side. Koja also handed Takaichi a letter requesting fundamental measures, including a review of the Japan-U.S. status of forces agreement, which governs the use of facilities and areas in Japan by U.S. forces and stipulates the status of U.S. forces in Japan. In response to the incident, the U.S. military suspended the routine duties of all service members in the prefecture for 48 hours. After the meeting, Koja told reporters that this measure “has some significance,” but added that he will closely watch the U.S. side’s further response. The governor also urged Takaichi to promptly resume the Okinawa Policy Council, which has not met since 2013, to promote economic development in Okinawa and reduce the prefecture’s burden of hosting many U.S. military bases. Takaichi said that she would take the request seriously and respond appropriately. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara also attended the Takaichi-Koja meeting. Earlier on Wednesday, Koja met separately with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and called for efforts to prevent a recurrence. In September, Koja won his first gubernatorial election with support from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, and others. He has indicated his willingness to accept the relocation of the Marine Corps’ Futenma air base within Okinawa, after his predecessors opposed it for the last 12 years. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
