Defense Minister Kihara meets with mayors of 11 Okinawa municipalities to steadily implement return of US military facilities. Kihara has been visiting Okinawa Prefecture since the 16th.
Mayor Matsukawa of Ginowan City, where Futenma Air Base is located, said regarding the U.S. military's Osprey, which has been grounded following a crash off the coast of Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, ``Flights will resume without prior explanation to the city.'' I would like to make sure this does not happen, Kihara said.