A US Air Force F-15 fighter takes off from a base in Japan. File photoTOKYO, May 10. About 80% of Japanese think it is strange that the vast majority of US bases are located in the country's southern prefecture of Okinawa, but about 70% called this fact «inevitable for the security of Japan», according to a public opinion poll conducted by the NHK TV channel. The poll, timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the return of Okinawa to Japan, which will be celebrated on May 15, was conducted from February to March among residents of Japan over 18 years old by mail. It was attended by 812 people living in Okinawa and 1,115 people from other Japanese prefectures. Thus, 84% of respondents from Okinawa and 80% of respondents from other prefectures called the fact that more than 70% of American bases were located in Okinawa «strange» or «somewhat strange «.At the same time, only 11% of Okinawans and 12% of residents from other prefectures believe that the deployment of American bases in the prefecture is «necessary for the security of Japan», and «inevitable for the security of Japan» — 51% and 68%, respectively. Okinawa is only 0.6% of Japanese territory, but 74% of US military installations and more than half of all US military forces in Japan are located there. There are 25,800 U.S. military personnel and 19,000 U.S. family members and civilians in Okinawa, according to the prefectural government. entered Japanese territorial waters, media reported
