Area of U.S. Camp in Okinawa Pref. to Be Returned to Japan; Both Sides Agree During Defense, Foreign Meeting

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:35 JST, April 17, 2026

About five hectares of an area within a U.S. army camp in central Okinawa Prefecture will be returned to Japan after both sides on Thursday agreed to the move.

The agreement to return the land was made at a Japan-U.S. Joint Committee meeting of foreign and defense authorities.

The area of the Kishaba residential area, located in the prefectural village of Kita-Nakagusuku within U.S. Camp Zukeran (Foster), will be returned after Japan’s Defense Ministry completes the relocation of residents in the area.

The Japanese government aims to complete the return within the fiscal year, with the intention of showing its commitment to steadily reduce the burden of military bases on the prefecture ahead of the Okinawa gubernatorial election, which is scheduled for September.