Gov. Nakaima calls on Prime Minister to support OIST’s expansion

TV Asahi reported that Governor Nakaima went out of the hospital in Tokyo, where he is hospitalized to undergo some tests, to visit the prime minister’s office with the aim to call for the expansion of OIST from the current 300 faculty level to 500.

After the meeting with Prime Minister Abe, Governor Nakaima told reporters at a press conference that Abe, who had already visited OIST, implied that he would meet the requests from Okinawa Prefectural Government.

Abe plans to obtain permission from Nakaima for the relocation of the U.S. Futenma Marine Corp Air Station and landfill work to build a replacement facility in Henoko, Nago by satisfying the requests from Okinawa Prefectural Government. Nakaima apparently discussed with Abe the shut-down of the Futenma air base within the next five years and relocation of MV-22 Osprey aircraft to other locations outside of Okinawa.