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**Okinawa Prepares for Referendum Amid U.S. Military Base Relocation Dispute** Okinawa, Japan is gearing up for a highly anticipated referendum regarding the controversial relocation of a U.S. military base within the prefecture. After numerous delays and challenges in preparation, the referendum is set to take place on the 24th. Initial ballot counts indicate that a majority of Okinawa residents are opposed to the relocation plan. Although the results are not legally binding, analysts believe the Japanese central government will face mounting pressure following the referendum. The Okinawa government is expected to formally report the outcome to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days. **Majority Oppose Relocation Plan** The referendum began at 7:00 a.m. on the 24th, continuing through the evening. A small portion of the electorate had already cast their ballots in early voting over the previous nine days. The primary goal of the referendum is to allow Okinawan citizens to express their opinion on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base within the prefecture. In a 1996 agreement, the Japanese and U.S. governments decided to move the base from Ginowan City to Henoko, in Nago City, both located within Okinawa, as part of a relocation plan intended to address safety concerns. Voters are presented with three options on the ballot: "Approve," "Oppose," or "Neither." If the option with the most votes crosses a threshold of 25% of eligible voters, the Okinawa government is obligated to convey the results to both Prime Minister Abe and President Trump. According to preliminary results from the evening of the 24th, a majority of Okinawa’s voters have chosen to oppose the relocation plan. Many residents are frustrated that the base would remain in Okinawa, expressing demands for either the complete closure of the base or its relocation outside the prefecture. **Pressure Mounts on Abe Administration** Okinawa accounts for only 0.6% of Japan's total land area but hosts over 70% of the U.S. military bases in Japan. For years, Okinawans have been burdened with issues linked to the U.S. military presence, including crimes, accidents involving military aircraft, falling debris, and persistent noise pollution. These issues have fueled long-standing tensions between the Okinawa government and Japan’s central government. The Okinawa government has repeatedly sued the central government to halt the relocation of the Futenma base, but negotiations have failed to bridge the divide between the two sides. Despite the fact that the referendum results are not legally binding, many believe that it clearly conveys the sentiments of Okinawans and will place additional pressure on the Abe administration. A recent poll conducted by Japan's Asahi Shimbun indicated that 80% of respondents believe the Abe government should respect the results of the Okinawan referendum. In September 2018, Denny Tamaki, a vocal critic of the U.S. military presence, won a landslide victory in Okinawa’s gubernatorial election, defeating a pro-relocation candidate. Since taking office, Tamaki has been a strong advocate for holding the referendum to highlight the local opposition to the relocation plan. **Challenges in Referendum Preparation** The path to holding the referendum has not been smooth. Several cities, including Okinawa City, Ishigaki, and Ginowan, initially opposed the referendum, raising concerns that voter turnout might be low. Critics argued that the options on the ballot were too limited to fully reflect public opinion, while others questioned the high costs associated with organizing the referendum. Nevertheless, the referendum proceeded as planned, and its results are expected to add new momentum to Okinawa's ongoing efforts to address the U.S. military base issue.