Introduction to Okinawa Okinawa is located at the south of Japan, composed of small islands about 1/10 area of Hawaii. Islands of Okinawa are known by their rich nature. Biodiversity of animals and plants of this island is highly appreciated. It is therefore called oriental Galapagos islands and was selected as a candidate of natural world heritage of the world. The candidacy turned to be unsuccessful owing to the fact that 20% of the island is occupied by US military bases, which largely inhibit protective measure for their nature. Modern history about US military bases on these islands will be described further below.
Where is Takae, Higashi-village? Higashi-village is in the northern part of Okinawa Island, about 2 hours’ drive by car from Naha; the capital of Okinawa. Takae is at the north edge of Higashi village with the population of 140 people, including 14 elementary or junior high school student and 13 pre-school children.
What is happening in Takae? Modern history Living area of Takae is surrounded by US military base called Northern training area. It has Jungle warfare training center in it. It is the only US marine training center of this kind in the world, whose main purpose is to learn survival in the jungle. That actually means it has nothing to do with the security of Japan itself because there is no threat of military attack for the jungle area of Japan. US military bases in Okinawa, including the one surrounding Takae, is a result of military illegal occupation of these area during the world war II which still continue until today. Legal situation of the US military base in Okinawa was slightly changed when Okinawa’s sovereignty was given back from US military government to Japan government in 1972. Since then, the US military base in Okinawa is provided by Japan government against the will of Okinawan people. Unfortunately Okinawa has been a training camp and also a relay base to be used for military action of USA in Korea war, Vietnam war, 1st and 2nd Iraq war.
New problem What is planed in Jungle warfare training center is that according to the US defense Global posture Review, six new helipads are going to be constructed by Japanese government and will be provided to US marine for their strategic purpose. That will directly affect the living of Takae people as the closest helipad is planed just 400 meters in distance from the housing area. Entire Takae has always been standing against the plan and is asking help from outside.
Petition call is to stop helipad construction plan by the voice of people from Japan (mainly on paper based petition) and from the world (mainly on web based petition). It should be mentioned that Takae US marine helipad plan has close link to Henoko US marine airbase, the combination of two will provide facility to train invading tropical islands. Stopping Takae helipad (in the area where Woodpecker and rail are living) means to stop Henoko airbase (in the area where dugong is living). MV-22 or Osprey is scheduled to be deployed here, which is known. as widow maker named on the bases of numbers of crashes and accidents record.
1. Please see further detail of the problem in the description on petition site below.