ニュース 2011/12/24 Maehara meets with Governor of Okinawa On December 24, DPJ Policy Research Committee Chair Seiji Maehara met with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima at party headquarters. At the start of the meeting, Nakaima referred to his participation in a meeting of the Okinawa Policy Council, which had been held that same day at the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as expressing his appreciation for the understanding of and efforts made by the DPJ toward increasing the budget for the development of Okinawa, as had been included in the budget proposal for fiscal 2012 that had received Cabinet approval that day. Following the meeting Maehara spoke to reporters, saying, “Today, the budget for fiscal 2012 was approved by the Cabinet, and the Governor had come to express his gratitude with regard to budget and tax [measures], but I said, “I am not in a position to deserve your gratitude.” He explained he had expressed the opinion that the Japanese government had relied too much on Okinawa in terms of bearing the burden of US bases, and as a result this had damaged the independent development of the economy of Okinawa, and caused a situation in which average incomes in the prefecture even now remain the lowest of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Maehara also stated he had said that “In view of such matters, these tax and budgetary [measures] are a concrete reflection of our feelings.” At the same time Maehara revealed the Governor had requested his continued support with regard to legislation relating to the Okinawa Promotion Plan and legislation to replace the Special Measures Law Concerning the Return of Land Used by the US Military in Okinawa Prefecture, and that he had responded, “We will also continue to provide our continued support [for this.]” Deputy Secretary General Koriki Jojima also met with Governor Nakaima on the same day.