Over 15,000 protesters endure torrential rain in Okinawa to form a human chain around a controversial U.S. marine air base. The demonstrators hoped to pressure Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to keep a campaign promise to move the base out of the prefecture. Hatoyama raised hopes during his election campaign last year that the base could be shifted off Okinawa. But he has since changed tack, saying he's to realise that some marines must stay on the island to deter threats. Some protesters see this as a broken promise.

I've been hearing about this lately. I haven't had time to look into the issue. Can anyone tell me why the Japanese want the base gone? I know they don't want it moved they want it gone, but I haven't heard why.

this issue is complicated. but people prostest to U.S base were mostly　Liberal , Comunist and some okinawa people. 　not all japanese protest about it

in ww2, Okinawa was the battle field then many civilian was involved in a battle and died .
so they are sensitive for military things and have strongly victim feelings

especially Hutenma base , there are many people has lived around there.
and people were suffered by harsh noise of airplane etc 　but they had been patient about Base issues

but in 1995, 12years old japanese girl were kidnapped and raped by 3 marines 　1995 Okinawa rape incident
then Japanese people's anger exploded 。that is a root of against US base.