OKINAWA, Japan, June 22 (UPI) -- A survey conducted jointly by two newspapers has found a wide gap in Japanese attitudes toward U.S. military bases on the island of Okinawa.
Nationwide, 47 percent of Japanese said U.S. bases on Okinawa are necessary, while only 30 percent of Okinawa residents said the bases are needed, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Wednesday.
On the other hand, 45 percent of Japanese said U.S. bases on Okinawa are unnecessary, while 70 percent of Okinawans said such military facilities are not needed.
The Mainichi Shimbun selected people randomly throughout Japan, including Okinawa, for the survey, while a local Okinawan newspaper conducted the poll on local residents. Both polls were conducted just prior to the 60th anniversary of the end of the Okinawa battle on June 23, 1945.
The results illustrated the perception gap between mainland residents and residents of Okinawa, where most of the U.S. forces in Japan are located, over the burden of hosting U.S. bases, the newspaper said.
