TOKYO, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Genta Koja, governor of Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa, said Friday he accepts the deployment of U.S. military MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft at the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the prefecture, local media reported.
Kyodo News said the move marks a reversal of the prefecture government's longstanding opposition to the aircraft's presence.
Speaking to reporters at the Okinawa prefectural government office, Koja said the Osprey transport aircraft have been deployed locally for more than 10 years, and that since the Japan Self-Defense Forces also operate the aircraft, demanding their withdrawal or a halt to their use is "not realistic."
Previous prefectural governments, under governors critical of U.S. bases, had opposed the deployment since before the aircraft were first stationed at the base in 2012, according to Kyodo News. Koja assumed the post of Okinawa governor last month.
The tilt-rotor transport aircraft have been involved in a series of major accidents, and because of concerns over flight safety and noise, residents in Okinawa have long opposed their deployment. ■