| Despite the reversion of Okinawa to Japan in 1972, thirty-eight U.S. military bases still remain in the prefecture. While the locals' entreaties to end their suffering from the consequences of the U.S. military presence remain strong, the U.S. and Japanese governments have adopted measures to maintain the U.S. military foothold. This study examined the viewpoints of six claimsmakers to illustrate an overlooked political process in the perpetuation of the U.S. military presence. The research applied a content analysis of newspaper articles appearing in the Okinawa Times following the disclosure of the U.S. Marine Corps' use of depleted uranium weapons. The study analyzed the degree to which the Okinawa Times connected the Okinawans' experiences to those of other people around the world who are also suffering from the presence of U.S. military forces, and to the role of the strengthened bilateral military alliance in manufacturing the security required by corporate Japan. |
