OuKishida says Tokyo, US to reach agreement on transforming former Camp Zukeran site

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OuKishida says Tokyo, US to reach agreement on transforming former Camp Zukeran site

On May 15, prime minister Fumio Kishida inspects a housing area at the U.S. military s Camp Foster, also known as Camp Zukeran, in Kita-Nakagusuku, Okinawa Prefecture. Shoma Fujiwaki KITA-NAKAGUSUKU, Okinawa Prefecture Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on May 15 that Tokyo and Washington are expected to reach an agreement on transforming part of a U.S. base in Okinawa Prefecture into a public space filled with greenery.

His announcement coincided with a ceremony held in Ginowan on the same day to mark the 50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa from U.S. control of Japanese sovereignty.

The U.S. bases are a very sore issue in Okinawa Prefecture, which hosts about 70 percent of the U.S. military facilities in Japan.

The site is part of the U.S. military s Camp Zukeran, also known as Camp Foster, which is scheduled to be returned to Japan in fiscal 2024 or thereafter. The Lower Plaza Housing Area is called the Lower Plaza Housing Area.

Kishida said after taking a tour of the facility, both Japanese and Americans will be able to use the land now used for housing as a public park ahead of the plot's return to Japan.

He said that he is hoping that both sides will make a lot of use of it.

Kishida mentioned the government's willingness to assist local authorities in making the best use of the former U.S. military site.

He promised that the government will give full support over how the land will be used for the development of Okinawa Prefecture as a whole.

Kishida has been visiting the southernmost prefecture since May 14 ahead of the commemoration ceremony.