NAHA -- Okinawa Prefecture on May 15 marked the 45th anniversary since its reversion to Japan, with regional economic development overshadowed by the heavy burden of hosting large U.S. military bases.
A total of 12.16 trillion yen in public funds has been injected into promoting Okinawa's regional economy over the past 45 years, leading to the improvement of roads and public facilities. In recent years, Okinawa has enjoyed a brisk economy, with the number of tourists in the prefecture reaching a record 8.76 million in fiscal 2016. On the other hand, the per capita income of prefectural residents still remains somewhere around 70 percent of the national average, among other lingering challenges.
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