governments agreed to move the base to henoko in northern okinawa. residents oppose the plan. they say the base should be moved out of okinawa, or the burden of its people will remain. opposition to the base was fueled by a series of crimes, including the rape involving u.s. service members. deployment of the u.s. osprey aircraft also angered local people over its poor safety record. ota said that if the u.s./japan security treaty was crucial to japan, the rest of the country should share the burden of the air station, and that moving it within okinawa would be unfair and unreasonable. >> prime minister abe tried to regain the trust of the okinawan people. i don't think it would work. this central government tried to listen to okinawan people and tried to solve the problems based on the okinawan people's request. >> reporter: abe stressed that the japan/u.s. alliance is an essential element over his foreign policy. he says he hopes to transfer the relationship when he meets u.s. president barack obama. relocating the futenma air station will likely be a key issue for japan/u.s.

governments agreed to move the base to hinoko in northern okinawa. residents opposed the plan. they say the base should be moved out of okinawa or the burden on its people will remain. opposition to the base was fueled by a series of crimes, including the rape involving u.s. service members. deployment of the u.s. osprey aircraft also angered local people over its poor safety record. ota said that if the u.s./japan security treaty was crucial to japan, the rest of the country should share the burden of the air station and that moving it within okinawa would be unfair and unreasonable. >> whatever the prime minister abe tried to gain the trust of the okinawan people, i don't think it would work unless they try to listen to okinawa and try to solve the problems based on the okinawan people's request. >> reporter: abe stressed that the japan/u.s. alliance is an essential element of his policy. he says he hopes to transfer the relationship when he meets u.s. president barack obama. relocating the futenma air station will likely be a key issue of japan/u.s. relations. nhk world, okin