The Issue of Futenma Under the Koizumi and Hatoyama Cabinets

Abstract

The issue of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which symbolizes a broader problem of the US military bases in Okinawa, has been a source of potential conflict in Japanese foreign and domestic politics over a long period of time. The chapter analyzes the decision-making process on the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF), primarily under Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio, focusing on the impact brought up by the administrative reforms of 2001. In order to put it in the comparative perspective, the decision-making process on Futenma is also briefly discussed under the cabinets of Murayama and Hashimoto, that is prior to the introduction of the reforms, as well as under Prime Minister Koizumi, who took office soon after their implementation. The issue of the US military bases in Okinawa has evolved over the years, being subjected to several factors, among which the international and regional security environment has played a major role. Nevertheless, during the period under investigation, it was precisely the domestic politics (intervening factors) that gave some stimuli to policy initiation and shaped policy outcome. The international pressure (gaiatsu), particularly from the United States, piled more pressure on the prime minister, limited his choices, and ultimately contributed to policy failure. The three cases attest to the importance of institutional tools available to the prime minister for effective policy making, but also point out to the significance of agency, particularly to the prime minister’s ability and skills to use those tools.