Changes For the Navy In Japan

Draft details realignment of U.S. forces
The Yomiuri Shimbun

A draft Japan-U.S. agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan calls for cutting the number of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture by 4,000 to 5,000, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Wednesday.

Under the proposed plan, the headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Expeditionary Forces at Camp Courtney in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, would be relocated to Guam.

According to the draft, Naha Naval Port in Naha, Makiminato Service Area in Urasoe, Camp Zukeran in Ginowan and Camp Kuwae in Chatancho will be completely or partially returned to Japanese rule. All these facilities are located in the south of Okinawa Prefecture.

On the mainland, about 70 aircraft operating from the U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk will use the marine corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, instead of the ground base at the U.S. Navy's Atsugi Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture.