The Osprey and Okinawa

For my first show and tell project of the year I have chosen the protests that have been occurring in Ginowan, Okinawa. 100,000 plus people gathered together to fight what they believe is a hazard to the men and women of the Okinawa military base. The protests have to do with an military piece of aircraft that has been used widely by the United States and around the world, the Osprey. The Osprey is a multi mission tilt rotor aircraft, meaning that the propellers on the aircraft can tilt in two ways. This allows the Osprey to have both the capabilites of a helicopter as well as a plane. Giving the speed of a fixed wing aircraft with the ability of a helicopter to land in tight areas. This airplane is extremely controversial because of the tilt rotor technology which makes it extremely unstable, because both rotors on the aircraft are driven by one driveshaft, meaning if one engine fails, both fail. This results in immediate lose of control and almost certain death due to no ejection seats. Due to these stability problems there have been many deaths contributed to the aircraft. Making it one of the most controversial American aviation projects to have ever been undertaken in recent history. The danger factor attributed to this aircraft has angered hundreds of thousands in Okinawa to stand against the deployment of this plane to local bases. The local participants adopted a resolution to ban the deployment of the Osprey stating its safety as a major concern. The Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima said, "As head of the city, I cannot allow the deployment of an aircraft whose safety has not been assured, I strongly resent the deployment plan."(Yomiuri) The protesters were also joined by the ruling party as well as leaders from all municipalites of Okinawa. It truely is a polarizing issue within the region with strong formidable support group. The movement is even evolving, "The organizers of the rally are slated to visit Tokyo on Wednesday and Thursday to deliver the resolution to Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto and Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba. They are also considering visiting the United States in October to lodge Okinawa's protest directly to the U.S. government." (Yomiuri) This was extremely interesting to me that this local issue evolved to become a world wide issue. That it immediately took root so strongly in Okinawa that they felt compelled to take it to the source the United States. No matter the United States Government moved ahead and shipped the Ospreys to the bases. They hope to soon begin using 12 within the area. Even as the United States moves ahead with the plan there have been, "concerns over the aircraft's safety have escalated after an Osprey made a precautionary landing in North Carolina on Thursday. The incident followed an Osprey crash in Morocco in April and another in Florida in June." (Yomiuri) These recent events have supported the Japanese in their crusade for the safety of the men and women that have to fly these dangerous aircraft within Okinawa.

How do you believe this topic plays into the culture of Japan?
Who is to blame for this problem Japan or the United States?

Sources

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120910003993.htm

http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/v22/