It has been 50 years since Okinawa returned to the mainland on the 15th of this month.


In an NHK opinion poll, when asked what they think about 70% of the facilities dedicated to the U.S. military in Japan are in Okinawa, more than 80% of the respondents in Okinawa answered "I think it is strange", nationwide. But it went up to about 80%.

NHK conducted a poll by mail to 1800 people aged 18 and over in Okinawa Prefecture and the whole country from February to March, 50 years after Okinawa returned to the mainland. We received responses from 812 people, which is 45.1%, and 1115 people, which is 61.9% nationwide.



In the opinion poll, when asked what they think about 70% of the dedicated facilities of the U.S. military in Japan are in Okinawa


▽ "I think it is strange" is 56% in Okinawa and 24% nationwide


▽ "Which one? "I think it's strange" is 28% in Okinawa, 55% nationwide


▽ "I don't think it's strange" is 8% in Okinawa, 13% nationwide


▽ "I don't think it's strange" is in Okinawa It was 5% and 7% nationwide.



The total of "I think it's strange" and "I think it's strange" exceeded 80% in Okinawa and about 80% nationwide.

The US military base "unavoidable" that remains after returning is 51% in Okinawa and 68% nationwide

On the other hand, I asked him what he thought about the US military bases that remained in Okinawa even after his return.



▽ "Necessary for the safety of Japan" is 11% in Okinawa and 12% nationwide.


▽ "It is unavoidable for the safety of Japan" was 51% in Okinawa and 68% nationwide.


▽ "Not necessary for the safety of Japan" was 19% in Okinawa and 14% nationwide.


▽ "It is rather dangerous for the safety of Japan" was 17% in Okinawa and 5% nationwide.

Experts about the survey results

Regarding the results of this survey, Associate Professor Makoto Sakurazawa of Osaka Kyoiku University, who specializes in modern and contemporary history of Okinawa, said, "How likely is it that you will be involved in a war in the world situation?" Perhaps the link is that Okinawa is more sensitive and has a slightly higher percentage than the whole country, and that the percentage of people who feel that it is unavoidable to have a base is higher. "



On top of that, "although there is a sense of discomfort about the concentration of bases only in Okinawa and distrust that the reduction of arrangements is not progressing, on the other hand, especially in the conflict between nations in the Asian region, bases to some extent. There is also a feeling that it is unavoidable that there is something. In the last 30 years or so, tensions have gradually increased since the end of the Cold War, and the survey results are 2022, the current figures. It has become. "