Overview of Activities
Destination: Okinawa Prefecture
Theme: “Futenma Airbase and the Lives of Local Residents”
Participants: 10 students
Period: February 15, 2026 (Sunday) to February 18, 2026 (Wednesday)
Activity Report
In this Study tour program, participants deepened their understanding of the U.S. military bases in Okinawa, focusing on Futenma Airbase, through the lens of the people living in Okinawa. The central question was: “How should people living outside Okinawa understand and engage with the feelings of the residents around Futenma Airbase?”
Participants visited historical sites related to the Battle of Okinawa, as well as areas around Futenma Airbase and the new Henoko base. They also attended talks from both private and government officials. Those helped them better understand the history of base construction, its effects, and the challenges faced by local residents. Additionally, through interactions with students from Okinawa International University (members of the SmiLife student group who volunteer as history guides), the participants had the opportunity to hear the perspectives of their peers, gaining valuable new insights and perspectives.
On the final day, each group presented their thoughts in response to the central question of the program in front of Professor Kiyoshi Fujinami, the coordinator of the program, and members of SmiLife. Based on their experiences and learnings from the program, the participants gave thoughtful and well-considered presentations, showing deep reflection on how they should engage with the issues from the perspective of the local residents in Okinawa.
Experience Report from participants
Hello, I’m Yu Kitamura. This spring break, I participated in a study trip to Okinawa to learn about the issues related to U.S. military bases from the view of Okinawa people.
On the first day, We visited the Ginowan City Museum and Okinawa International University (OKIU) to understand the relationship between Futenma Air Base and the local community. On the second day, OKIU students taught us about the Battle of Okinawa and the 2004 helicopter crash on the OKIU campus. We also visited Henoko, the relocation site for the new base. On the final day, We visited American Village to learn about land use after the base was returned.
Throughout the trip, I had opportunities to hear various people’s opinions, including residents of Ginowan. The stories from the OKIU students left a strong impression on me. Because the campus is very close to the base, students suffer from daily noise and traffic jams. Furthermore, they live with a constant fear of accidents. In fact, a U.S. military helicopter actually crashed onto the OKIU campus in 2004. Hearing these stories, I realized how deeply the bases affect the lives of local people.
One student’s words particularly stuck with me: “We should distinguish between America as a country, the American people, and the military bases.” We often view this issue through a simple lens of “Japan vs. the U.S.,” but it is far more complex. That is why it is essential to consider the problem from many different perspectives.
Thanks to Professor Fujinami, the students, and everyone who spoke with us, I gained a deeper understanding of the base issues and, more importantly, the feelings of the local people. In the past, I saw this issue as something that didn’t really involve me. From now on, I want to keep the lives and emotions of the local people in mind whenever I think about these issues.
At WISH, there are so many opportunities to meet diverse people and gain new perspectives—things you just can’t obtain from a textbook. Over the past year, I’ve learned how important it is to look at the world from different points of view. I hope this article inspires others to take an interest in the learning opportunities here at WISH.
(Kitamura Yu)
