Japanese government officials hope to win support for a plan to move an American airfield in Okinawa by holding direct talks with residents after negotiations with the island’s governor yielded to no result.

As the government prepares to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City to the coastal Henoko district of Nago City it must first win over the hearts and minds of the local population. Thus far this has proven to be a hard sell.