(LinkAsia: November 9, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In the wake of Romney's defeat and Obama's victory, Japan's prime minister congratulated the president and stressed the importance of the Japan-US alliance for East Asian security and economic recovery. Here's Japanese public broadcaster NHK with more.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: November 7, 2012

Reporter:
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has congratulated the US President and promised his co-operation. The foreign ministry will also welcome Obama's second term. Senior officials expect the US will maintain its international policies, including its focus on Asia. But problems remain in Japan-US ties. There is the stalled plan to relocate the Marine Corps' Futenma Station in Okinawa. The deployment of the US transport aircraft, the Osprey, is another sticking point. Defense officials have yet to convince local populations to accept training flights over their neighborhoods. In Okinawa, people are calling for stronger controls on US troops after the recent sexual assault of a woman by US servicemen.

On the economy, Japanese officials will be preparing a response should the US press Japan into joining free trade talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. There may be friction if the US insists Japan drop its tariffs.

But overall, Obama's win should be good for Japan. There's the chance of stronger US ties. With China relations gone sour over the Senkaku conflict, that's sure to be re-assuring.

Jun Oikawa. NHK World, Tokyo.

(LinkAsia: August 24, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has announced that it will move ahead with its plans to purchase at least some of the islands, which it calls the Senkaku, to make them national Japanese territory. To add insult to injury, the government is also trumpeting the start of a large military exercise with the United States. This will be the first time that Japanese ground forces will participate. Here's Japanese broadcaster NHK with the story.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: August 21, 2012

Reporter:
Forty self-defense force personnel in Kyushu and Okinawa. Forty-two Navy vessels at the US White Beach naval facility in Uruma City, Okinawa. The Navy will use its amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard and the landing ship, the USS Tortuga. 

Vehicles and containers were loaded onto the decks. A military hovercraft was loaded in to the well deck of the assault ship. 

Members of Japan's self-defense forces have been training with marines based in California, but this is the first time they will take part in landing drills with those based in Okinawa. US military and SCS personnel are scheduled to depart in a few days for Tinian and Guam Island. They're located some 2,000 kilometers from Okinawa in the Western Pacific. 

The drill will employ marine vessels and helicopters. The exercise is viewed as a demonstration of bilateral cooperation at a time when China is increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan and the United States want to stage this first joint landing drill so that Japan can learn from the US how to beef up the defense of its Southwestern islands. For its part, the US wants to secure the Japan's cooperation in stressing Guam's strategic importance as it faces cuts in its defense budget.

Takao Nabeshima, NHK World, Okinawa.

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Yul Kwon:
While the US government has publicly stated that it will remain neutral in this territorial dispute, analysts quoted by China Daily say that the drill is a clear signal that the US is throwing its weight behind Japan.

(LinkAsia: August 17, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
World War Two ended 67 years ago this week. The conclusion of the war was marked by Japan's unconditional surrender. But the country's neighbors, especially South Korea and China, still feel that Tokyo hasn't shown enough remorse over the Japanese army’s brutality throughout the conflict. As a result, the anniversary has become a time of protest against Japan.

This week, there was a new development in a long-simmering dispute over the islands that Japan calls Senkaku. Japan controls the islands, but they’re also claimed by China and Taiwan. Japanese authorities arrested a group of Hong Kong activists for illegally entering the islands. Here's the story from Japanese broadcaster NHK.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: August 15, 2012

Reporter:
Coast Guard spokespersons say seven activists on a fishing boat landed Wednesday on the Senkakus in the East China Sea. Japan considers the islands part of its southernmost prefecture Okinawa.

Police say the activists jumped off the boat and swam to Uotsuri Island. Two of them went back to the vessel soon after landing. Officers arrested the five activists who remained on the island on charges of illegal entry into Japanese territory.

The fishing boat left Hong Kong Sunday. It entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus despite repeated warnings from coast guard patrol vessels.

In 2004, a group of seven Chinese activists landed on Uotsuri Island. Japanese authorities arrested them on charges of illegal entry and deported them. In 2010, a Chinese trawler collided with two Japanese patrol boats off the Senkakus. Research ships, fisheries, patrol boats and other vessels from China have frequently entered Japanese territorial waters since then.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced in July that his government is planning to purchase some of the islands from private owners and nationalize them.

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Yul Kwon:
News reports from Tokyo say that Japan has deported 14 Chinese. The government didn't want relations with Beijing to deteriorate further.

(LinkAsia: July 13, 2012)
Yul Kwon:                                                                      
In addition to its dispute with South Korea, Japan is locked in a territorial struggle over another set of islands that it calls the Senkaku. Japan currently controls the uninhabited islands, but China and Taiwan are disputing its claim. Now the Japanese government is upping the ante. Here's Japanese broadcaster NHK with the story.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: July 9, 2012

Reporter:
The five, uninhabited islets lie off Okinawa. The state owns one of them. It's been renting the others from a Japanese family since 2002. Now the Noda administration is considering buying them.

Osamu Fujimura, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary:
The purpose is to ensure peaceful and stable management of the islands and surrounding waters. Buying them instead of continuing the present one-year lease would help do that.

Reporter:
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura denies the existence of a dispute over the Senkakus. He says history and international law back up Japan's claim. Fujimura adds the government will maintain tight security on the islands. He says officials are involved in a number of different negotiations.

(LinkAsia: May 18, 2012)
Sydnie Kohara:
Okinawa has been at the heart of Japan-US relations for decades. It was under US administration after the end of World War Two until it was handed back to Japan on May 15, 1972. But even now, American military bases still take up large parts of the main island. Residents and leaders recently came together to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the handover.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 15, 2012

Reporter:
About 1,200 people attended the ceremony at the Okinawa Convention Center. Among them, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, US Ambassador to Japan John Roos, and local representatives. Noda used his speech to stress his government's efforts to strengthen Okinawa's economy and said he's committed to change.

Yoshihiko Noda, Japanese Prime Minister:
I'm fully aware of the heavy burden US military facilities are imposing on people in Okinawa. I reiterate my determination to reduce the burden on the prefecture quickly, visibly, and specifically, while maintaining the deterrence.

Reporter:
The remarks by US Ambassador to Japan John Roos touched on the impact the American military presence has had on Okinawa.

John Roos, US Ambassador to Japan:
As it has been in the past, our alliance continues to be indispensable to our future, and we, as Americans, recognize the sacrifices the people of Okinawa have made to keep this critical alliance strong.

Reporter:
For many islanders, the return of Okinawa offered the promise of stability and basic human rights under the Japanese constitution. However, some also say it marked the beginning of another age of hardship.