Protesters paddle close to the reclamation site in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14. (Minako Yoshimoto)
NAGO, Okinawa Prefecture--Protests over reclamation work to build a new U.S. base marked the start of their third year Dec. 14 when 40 or so people staged a ritual sit-in outside the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab here.
The central government is relentlessly pushing ahead with the project despite fierce opposition among Okinawans. The reclamation work involves dumping tons of earth and sand into the sea off the Henoko district.
The massive undertaking is aimed at relocating the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, also in Okinawa Prefecture.