Related stories: US, Japan agree to reduce American Marines on Okinawa
                     Japanese govt urged to renounce use of forces overseas
                     US to deploy nuclear aircraft carrier in Japan

On stage from left, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Defense Minister of Japan Yoshinori Ono hold a press briefing at the Pentagon Oct. 29 in Arlington, Va. The United States and Japan agreed Saturday to step up military cooperation and substantially reduce the number of Marines on the strategically important southern island of Okinawa.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reviews members of the Japan Self-Defense Force (SDF) from an open car during his visit to Hyakuri Air Base, north of Tokyo, Oct. 30. Koizumi said the Japanese public now believes Japan's military should be officially recognized in the nation's constitution, in a speech at the base. His speech came after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposed revisions to the constitution that would drop a clause outlawing war and expand the role of the SDF.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]