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are members of the Council to Protect Owners' Rights and

Property on Military Bases.  Starting in 1982 some of them

began subdividing their land as a means of protest.  There

are now about 3,000 so-called one-tsubo (about 40-square-

feet) landowners, people who have gained title to obstruct

U.S. control by refusing to extend the leases on their

land.  The movement began on Okinawa but has expanded to

the mainland as residents have sought to demonstrate their

solidarity with Okinawans.  One of the activists is

Moriteru Arasaki, a noted author and university professor

at Okinawa University.  The organization he represents,

the One-tsubo Landlords Campaign, wants to eliminate all

of the bases.  They want their land returned because their

desire is to "use the land productively and for our

lives."26

The main challenge has been the central government's

willingness to force owners to extend their leases.  Curi-

ously, the U.S. armed forces enjoy a higher legal position

than does the Japanese Self-Defense Force, which must rely

on voluntary contracts.  But the administration of Prime

Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto went to court to force the

prefectural government to provide the relevant signature in

the de facto expropriation of private land for the U.S.

facilities.  Not only landowners but other Okinawans have

protested the stifling U.S. military occupation.  In 1995,

85,000 Okinawans turned out in one major demonstration.

The following year 89 percent of Okinawans casting ballots

voted in favor of reducing the American military pres-

ence.27   Nevertheless, Tokyo and Washington issued a joint

declaration in April 1997, supplemented by another accord

a year later, affirming the continued presence of U.S.

military forces.

If Tokyo and Washington do not come up with meaning-

ful relief, Okinawan anger is likely only to rise.  Ota

worries that some residents may resort to violence.  Choko

Takayama, deputy mayor of Naha city, argues, "If the U.S.

wants to keep its forces in the region long-term, it needs

to take action, like folding Futenma Air Station into

Kadena Air Base."28

Collusion between Tokyo and Washington

An important cause of Okinawans' frustration is the

fact that their pleas are ignored in Tokyo as well as in

Washington.  Unfortunately, the American base presence in

Okinawa provides no cause for complaint by Tokyo.  Three-

quarters of U.S. facilities are now concentrated on 0.6

percent of Japan's land area, which also happens to be the