okinawans

The prime minister raised the hopes of put - upon Okinawans by suggesting there was no need to build a new base at all .

Before taking office last September Mr Hatoyama had promised Okinawans that he would move the base off the island altogether.

To make matters worse, most Okinawans seem determined to hold Mr Hatoyama to his word about removing the base altogether.

He acknowledged, as Mr Hatoyama has, that "the burden" of American forces on Okinawans needs to be reduced.

Okinawans claiming to feel no threat from China often use this to bolster arguments that bases should be eliminated from Okinawa.

Simple as that. And, obviously, many Okinawans of Chinese ancestry would not bow to the Japanese government. They were killed.

Many Okinawans want the base moved, in response to various crimes committed by military personnel against Japanese civilians.

Way before Michael Pollan wrote about his simple rules for eating healthy, the Okinawans had this down.

Okinawans have been protesting against the bases for years.

The Okinawans, however, will do their best to keep their strident opposition to the base in the public eye.

The Okinawans (the indigenous people of the Ryukyu islands in Japan) are famous for having the longest life expectancy in the world.