Remarks last year by Naoto Kan on Okinawa made waves Wednesday after a book by an Upper House member from the prefecture said the new prime minister recently recommended it should become independent from Japan.
In "Okinawa no Jikoketteiken" ("Okinawa's Right to Autonomy"), written by Democratic Party of Japan member Shokichi Kina and published May 31, Kan is quoted as saying in a conversation with Kina that issues surrounding Okinawa "are too heavy" and he would "rather not touch it."