The Henoko Anti-Base Movement

By 2024, around 70% of U.S. military bases in Japan are in Okinawa, causing noise, crime, and pollution. Since 2014, Henoko has seen peace protests mainly led by elderly individuals who recall the traumas of war, while the younger generation is distancing itself from the anti-war movement.

Nakayama Yoshito, a 65-year-old social activist and peace advocate we met at the protest site, repeatedly expressed his gratitude to us. He appreciated that we had traveled from afar to join their protest. That day, he shared a message with me that I will never forget:

"Indifference is the closest friend of war and the greatest enemy of peace."