NAHA, Okinawa Pref. — Even though former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama broke his promise to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma out of Okinawa, his involvement in the matter ended the moment he left office.
But for the people of Okinawa the story is far from over, and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, which Hatoyama led until early June, may end up paying a high political price to clean up the mess left by the former prime minister.