Okinawa leader to US: Stop base

TOKYO — The bicultural, newly elected governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa plans to visit the United States with a message to the American people: Stop building a disputed military base and build peace instead.

"I want the American people to understand what has been, what is and what will be, to solve this problem," Denny Tamaki told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday at the Tokyo office for Okinawa prefecture.

Tamaki plans to visit New York and other U.S. cities in November, although dates and other details are not yet decided, according to the governor's office.

Tamaki took office Oct. 4 after campaigning for a disputed U.S. Marine air base to be moved entirely off the island and for the American military presence on Okinawa to be reduced. The tiny island hosts about half of the 54,000 American troops stationed in Japan and accounts for 64 percent of the land used for U.S. military bases.

Tamaki, 59, is the first person with an American parent to lead Okinawa, and he stressed that his bicultural roots make him perfect to relay a message to the U.S. public.

His father is a U.S. Marine he has never met. His mother, who raised him in Okinawa, burned all his father's letter and photos, Tamaki recalled.

But he would like to meet his father in the U.S. and hug him, he added.

"I'd like to say, 'Hi, dad.' How've you been?" he said in English and Japanese, waving, adding jokingly perhaps 100 people might come forward.

He acknowledged he was not sure what he thought of the overall policy stances of President Donald Trump. A meeting with Trump is not on the trip agenda.

Tamaki said although Trump appeared to take a negative view toward Asia on trade, his gestures for reconciliation with North Korea, including a summit earlier this year with leader Kim Jong Un, showed Trump was committed to pursuing regional peace.