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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NAHA 000021 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/30/2032 
TAGS: MARR PINS JA
SUBJECT: COURTESY CALL BY TOP US COMMANDING GENERAL IN OKINAWA ON 
PREFECTURAL GOVERNOR A GOOD OMEN 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Kevin K. Maher, Consul General, U.S. Consulate 
General Naha, U.S. Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  The tone of the January 26 courtesy call by 
the senior US military official in Okinawa on the new governor 
of Okinawa Prefecture was warm and friendly.  In a break from 
previous administrations, Governor Hirokazu NAKAIMA refrained 
from lecturing LtGen Joseph Weber on Okinawan history or reading 
a laundry list of complaints regarding the US military. 
Instead, Nakaima focused on ways the U.S. military might further 
contribute to the Okinawan economy.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) On January 26 Lieutenant General Joseph R. Weber, 
commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and 
Okinawa Area Coordinator, paid a courtesy call on Okinawa 
Prefecture Governor Hirokazu NAKAIMA.  Nakaima, who took office 
just one month previously, thanked Weber for calling and said it 
was important for the US military and Okinawa Prefectural 
Government (OPG) to establish close, direct lines of 
communication.  Weber agreed that direct, open communications 
were essential to working through and resolving problems, and 
building a healthy, trusting relationship. Nakaima requested the 
military continue to try to reduce incidents and accidents in 
order to minimize tension between local citizens and the US 
military.  Weber replied he knew Nakaima had campaigned on a 
platform that included "zero incidents and accidents," and he 
was committed to that goal as well. 
 
¶3.  (U) Vice Governor Zenki NAKAZATO noted that OPG and US 
military leaders once had reciprocal house parties and golf 
outings, and Nakaima said he wanted to resume that tradition. 
Nakaima noted that during his tenure as chairman of the Okinawa 
Electric Power Company, he had played golf with Weber, and he 
would like to start doing that again.  Nakaima also noted he 
intended to visit US Marine Corps facilities on January 30. 
Weber said he was pleased with Nakaima's planned visits, and he 
would be welcome anytime. 
 
¶4.  (U) Nakaima thanked Weber for Service members' volunteering 
for the English Language Assistance Program, an English as a 
second language program to help Okinawans develop practical 
English skills.  He also mentioned his appreciation that Okinawa 
college students could attend on-base college classes, providing 
an opportunity similar to studying abroad, but at a much lower 
cost.  Weber noted that the English language program was just 
one example of Service members' volunteer programs that helped 
build friendly relations with host communities. 
 
NAHA 00000021  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) Nakaima sought Weber's assistance on three 
economic/commercial issues.  First, for local producers to have 
the opportunity to place more Okinawa products in military 
post/base exchanges and commissaries.  Nakaima explained that 
sales within military facilities would generate profits as well 
as serve as test markets for potential exports to the United 
States.  Weber said he would consider and research how to get 
more local products into the military shopping areas. 
 
¶6.  (U) Nakaima also asked Weber to assist in getting direct 
commercial flights between Okinawa and the United States, 
specifically Hawaii.  Nakaima said he had been working 
indirectly with two airlines to convince them to offer such 
service.  Weber noted there were reduced military air flights 
available for Service members in Okinawa, so he shared the 
governor's interest in establishing direct commercial flights 
between the United States and Okinawa.  Finally, Nakaima asked 
Weber if he would think of other ways to assist in developing 
Okinawa's economy, and noted he had made the same request of 
Consul General Maher in a separate meeting.  Weber agreed that 
developing the Okinawan economy was important, and to do what he 
could. 
 
¶7.  (C)  USFJ Okinawa Area Field Office (OAFO) Comment:  It was 
significant that Nakaima, unlike previous administrations, chose 
to avoid lecturing Weber and instead, expressed a desire to 
establish a closer relationship between OPG and the US military. 
 Furthermore, he did this publicly, in the presence of the 
media.  OAFO received a copy of talking points prepared by OPG 
staff for Nakaima a few days before the courtesy call.  Those 
talking points included what would have been standard for 
Nakaima's predecessor, Keiichi INAMINE.  Before the courtesy 
call, OPG staff notified OAFO that the governor had rejected the 
talking points and would have his own agenda, which was largely 
positive.  Although it may still be too early to assess the 
climate and direction of the Nakaima administration, this 
meeting was encouraging and may indicate that the political 
environment on Okinawa is maturing and could result into a more 
positive, realistic relationship with the U.S. military.  End 
OAFO Comment. 
 
¶8.  (C)  Comment: ConGen Naha concurs in OAFO comment.  ConGen 
notes that Nakaima's January 30 visit to Marine Corps bases is 
an unprecedented and welcome OPG outreach, apparently directed 
at better understanding US military issues.  End comment. 
 
Participants: 
OPG: 
Okinawa Prefecture Governor Hirokazu Nakaima 
 
NAHA 00000021  003 OF 003 
 
 
Okinawa Prefecture Vice Governor Zenki Nakazato 
OPG Director General Yoritaka Hanashiro 
 
USG: 
III Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General LtGen Joseph 
Weber 
USFJ Okinawa Area Field Office Chief COL Mark Franklin 
USFJ Okinawa Area Field Office Pol-Mil Liaison Hisae Freeman 
MAHER