Japan - January 07, 2025 Storyline: Bracing rainy weather, dozens of Japanese protesters gathered in front of Japan's Ministry of Defense on Monday evening to rally against the planned relocation of a U.S. air base to Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture and demand an end to U.S. military bases in the Prefecture. Okinawa, accounting for less than 1 percent of Japan's total land mass, hosts 70 percent of U.S. military bases in the country. According to official statistics, from 1972 to 2023, U.S. soldiers stationed on the southern island of Okinawa and their dependents were involved in around 6,200 criminal cases, including murder, rape, robbery and other crimes. Despite the strong opposition of residents and the local government of Okinawa, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japanese government decided to start the construction of the Henoko base in August 2024 to replace the Futenma air base in densely populated Ginowan. Protesters urged the Japanese government to immediately end the land reclamation work in Oura Bay off the Henoko district, citing concerns over its destruction of the marine environment and threats to the peace of Okinawa Prefecture. The Japanese government in December approved a draft initial budget for fiscal 2025, with defense spending surpassing 8 trillion yen (around 50.56 billion U.S. dollars), reaching a record high. A total of 225.7 billion yen (around 1.43 billion U.S. dollars) is supposed to be spent to cover the cost of relocating the U.S. military base. Protesters said increasing defense spending not only lays a heavy burden on the Japanese people but also goes against Article 9 of Japan's pacifist constitution, which renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts. Shotlist: Tokyo, Japan - Jan 6, 2025: 1. Various of protesters holding banners; 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) protester (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 3/ending with shot 4): "According to a vote by residents in Okinawa Prefecture, 70 percent oppose the construction of the U.S. military base. They are building a military base in Henoko in the name of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base from Ginowan. Militarizing Okinawa Prefecture is what the Japanese and U.S. governments are doing. Okinawa's Oura Bay boasts rich natural resources and diverse marine life. The construction of the military base has seriously harmed the marine environment, impairing both the region's ecological balance and its peace. For these reasons, I am strongly opposed to it." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 3. Various of Japan's Defense Ministry, guard at gate; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Various of protesters holding signs; 5. Protester holding banner; 6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) protester (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 7): "Building a new military base will only intensify the regional tensions and further distance us from peace. It damages the natural environment, goes against public opinion and is an abuse of taxpayer money, so I strongly oppose the construction of the military base in Henoko." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Protester with sign [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 8. Japan's Defense Ministry building, guards; 9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) protester (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 10): "I believe the actions of the Japanese government are completely wrong. Building military base would bring excessive costs and environmental damage. The move only heightens the risk of war. The government is disregarding the lives, safety, and concerns of people, acting in a manner that goes against the people's will." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Protester holding banner; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 11. Protesters gathering, singing; 12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) protester (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 13/ending with shot 14): "The government is creating tension by greatly increasing the national defense spending budget. We must oppose this. The government is scrapping the pacifist constitution and drifting further away from peace. I think the government should respect people's will and immediately stop constructing a military base in Henoko." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 13. Protesters gathering, singing; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan - 2024: 14. Various of sea, buoys, U.S. military base under construction; FILE: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan - Sept 11-14, 2022; 15. Cityscape. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]