Okinawa Governor Genta Koja Endorses U.S. Osprey Presence at Futenma Base

Okinawa’s new governor, Genta Koja, declared his willingness to allow U.S. MV-22 Osprey transport planes to remain at the Futenma air station, overturning the long-standing stance of previous administrations that opposed the aircraft on safety grounds. Koja, who assumed the governorship late last month, said more than a decade has passed since the Ospreys arrived and that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces also fly them, making a demand for removal impractical.

He also affirmed his backing of the broader plan to relocate the Futenma base from the crowded city of Ginowan to the coastal Henoko site in Nago. The Osprey, capable of vertical take-off and conventional flight, has been involved in several accidents both within Japan and internationally. Koja’s shift signals a new alignment with U.S. military interests while still pursuing the base-relocation agenda. The decision may affect local sentiment and the ongoing debate over U.S. forces in the region.