Local newspapers on Wednesday said he plans to fly to Washington for his first state visit to demonstrate that stance. However, heightened U.S. military involvement could encounter strong opposition from the Japanese public after a collision in February between a U.S. nuclear submarine and a Japanese training trawler left nine Japanese dead. Public support for U.S. troops in Japan was already frayed by a series of crimes by American military personnel on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, which sparked growing calls for a reduction in the number of troops on the island. A newspaper survey last week showed that while 74 percent of Japanese voters want to maintain the U.S. security pact, nearly two-thirds want to see a gradual reduction of the American military presence on Okinawa. Hester said that although he understood calls by local politicians for a reduction in the U.S. presence, it was an issue to be discussed at the top levels.
Calls are appropriate.
Local politicians are representing citizens just as they are elected to do. We are guests in this great host country. We must work to be good neighbours.