Japan will ask the United States to return several military facilities in the southern prefecture of Okinawa as part of an agreement to revise a 6-year-old realignment plan for US forces in Japan.

A government official told this to reporters on Monday after the 2 sides agreed to tweak the 2006 plan that calls for the return of the US Futenma air station in Okinawa and transfer of the Marines to the US territory of Guam.

Japan and the US will separate the 2 matters and start deploying some of the Marines first. This is because talks on the relocation have been deadlocked due to local opposition to moving the air station within the prefecture.

The official said the revision is intended to put the relocation forward and the 2 sides think that moving the air station within Okinawa remains the best option.

The revised realignment plan also calls for the return of 5 US military facilities on condition that the Marines move out of Japan and the air station is relocated.

The official said the 2 countries need to discuss the return of these facilities now that the US will go ahead with the transfer of the Marines.

The official expressed hope that Japan will win understanding from the United States for its request.

News credit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120206_31.html

Image credit: http://legacy.stripes.com/09/nov09/okinawa_bases.jpg