Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture, Urges Government for Early Return of U.S. Camp Kinser
Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto of Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture, along with a delegation of city council members, recently submitted a formal request to the Japanese government calling for the full return of the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Kinser. Located within Urasoe City, this facility has long been a challenge regarding the future use of the land and regional development.
During this request, Mayor Matsumoto and his delegation visited relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The mayor and his team strongly urged the acceleration of discussions between the Japanese and U.S. governments to realize the early return of Camp Kinser. They also appealed for deeper discussions regarding concrete plans to effectively utilize the land once it is returned.
Furthermore, the city emphasized that financial support and technical expertise from the national government are necessary to facilitate smooth land use following the return. The city intends to use the site to revitalize the local economy and improve the living environment for its citizens, and is seeking proactive support from the national government.
The return of Camp Kinser is a critical issue for the future of Urasoe City. Many citizens are closely watching how the government will respond to this request and how the bilateral discussions between Japan and the United States will progress.