Okinawa Policy Council

On November 6, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi attended a meeting of the Okinawa Policy Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, discussions were held on requests from the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture.

The Prime Minister said in her opening address as follows:

(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Good morning.

When I met with Governor Koja on October 7, he requested that we convene a meeting of the Okinawa Policy Council. Today, we are holding that meeting in response to his request.

Governor Koja, thank you very much for coming to the Prime Minister's Office so early this morning.

First, regarding the robbery and murder case that occurred on October 3, a U.S. Marine was recently indicted.

Once again, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the deceased and extend my heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

The Government will take firm action in responding to this incident and preventing such incidents from occurring.

Okinawa possesses distinctive advantages and potential, including its geographical location at the center of East Asia and the highest birth rate in Japan.

It is important to make use of these strengths and comprehensively and strategically promote the development of Okinawa as a national strategy.

On October 30, Governor Koja gave me a very passionate presentation on the Regional Industrial Cluster Plan in the medical and biotechnology sectors.

We will firmly support initiatives to realize a strong Okinawan economy, including by utilizing the framework of the Strategy for the Future of Regions, under which the national government takes the initiative to powerfully induce bold domestic investment.

At the same time, even more than 80 years after the end of the war, a large number of U.S. military facilities and areas remain concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture. I take very seriously the heavy burden that the people of Okinawa continue to bear as a result.

What matters is steadily delivering concrete results, one by one. We will make every effort to achieve tangible reductions in the burden of U.S. military bases on Okinawa.

I ask all the ministers gathered here today to take the Governor's requests seriously and carefully consider each of them according to its nature, including:

- Matters that can be addressed in the FY2027 budget; and 
- Matters that require medium- to long-term efforts.

In advancing policies concerning Okinawa, it is essential that the national government, the prefectural and municipal governments, and the business community work closely together.

Let us work together toward the development of Okinawa, in close cooperation with Governor Koja and the people of Okinawa.

Thank you very much. That is all.