The new era name Reiwa, chosen by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, carries the meaning that culture will grow beautifully among people who care for each other. Reiwa will begin on May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito becomes Emperor, replacing the current Heisei era name. Abe hopes Reiwa will preserve Japan's history, culture and nature for future generations. The U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed in Okinawa leaves Japan over 100 days per year on average for exercises overseas. Since 2001 it has also focused on disaster relief operations in Southeast Asia. However, a professor argues the unit's frequent absences mean it cannot adequately protect Japan alone in emergencies

1. April 1, 2019
Abe: New era name carries wish for tomorrow
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005645086
The new era name Reiwa, chosen on Monday, carries the connotation
that culture will be born and grow among people who care for each other
in a beautiful manner, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a press
conference following the announcement of the name.
Reiwa will replace the current Heisei era name on May 1 when Crown
Prince Naruhito assumes the throne. It was derived from the Manyoshu,
Japan’s oldest poetry collection.
The classic anthology was chosen because it “symbolizes the rich
culture of the people and the nation’s long traditions,” Abe said, citing
the fact that the work was compiled about 1,200 years ago and features
poems composed by people from a wide range of social classes, from
emperors and Imperial family members to farmers.
Abe began his press conference by reading a statement in which he said
Reiwa reflects the wish to “make sure to pass on to the next era the
national characteristics of Japan — eternal history, sophisticated culture
and beautiful nature for all four seasons.”
“We also include the wish that Japan will be a place where each and
every Japanese person can make their own large flower bloom with
hopes for tomorrow,” he added.
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts about the new era name?
2. If you were given a chance to give a new era name for Japan,
what would it be? Why?
3. What are your hopes for yourself this coming new era?
4. What are your hopes for Japan?

2. U.S. Marines unit in Okinawa leaves Japan more than 100
days a year
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201904010054.html
A key unit of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa Prefecture is
repeatedly conducting drills overseas, U.S. archives show.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU), which is deploying
widely from East Asia to the Middle East, has also placed importance on
disaster rescue operations in recent years, the records show.
The 31st MEU has visited or deployed to at least 15 countries while
using Okinawa Prefecture as its base of operations.
The Okinawa prefectural government has made the 31st MEU's frequent
absences from the prefecture one of the reasons for its assertion that
there is no geographical necessity for Marine Corps bases to be located
in Okinawa.
Annual reports and related documents from 1992, when the 31st MEU
was reactivated, to 2017 were obtained. The total number of disclosed
pages was about 3,600. (Parts of the reports and related documents
from 2004 to 2005, in 2008, and from 2012 to 2015 did not exist or were
not disclosed.)
According to the disclosed documents, the 31st MEU left Okinawa for
other regions of the world more than 100 days a year in most of the
years. The largest number of days was about 160 in 2009.
Since there were some cases in which the unit’s whereabouts were
unclear, the number of days in which it was outside Okinawa could be
longer.
In and after 2001, the unit often deployed to Southeast Asian countries
for disaster rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the 31st MEU left Okinawa to respond to emergencies twice,
in 1998 and in 2004.
In 1998, the unit was dispatched to Kuwait following the U.S. and British
forces’ aerial bombing of Iraq. In 2004, it was deployed to Fallujah in Iraq
where fierce fighting occurred.
Under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the United States has a duty to
defend Japan while Japan provides land for U.S. bases.

3. As for the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa, Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe said, “The corps are a deterrent force of the Japan-U.S. alliance
and its core.”
Regarding the 31st MEU, the Japanese Defense Ministry said, “It
possesses high capabilities for quick responses.”
Masaaki Gabe, professor of political science at the University of the
Ryukyus, who has detailed knowledge of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty
and the U.S. military base issues, said that the archives support the
belief that the 31st MEU often leaves Okinawa for long periods by
boarding amphibious assault ships and conducts drills outside Japan.
In the event of emergencies around Japan, however, it would be virtually
impossible for the 31st MEU to deal with them alone. The U.S. Navy and
Air Force would need to be deployed from areas such as Hawaii and
Guam, he said.
“The Japanese government says that the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in
Okinawa is a deterrent force and that the corps are stationed for the
benefit of Japan. But this is only rhetoric to put Japanese people at
ease,” Gabe said.
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on the issue?
2. Would you say that US has been keeping their promise to protect
Japan? Why?
3. After reading the article, would you say that Japan is fully
protected by USA? Why?
4. To whom do you believe more, PM Abe or Professor Gabe? Why?
5. Would you say that US is still reliable in case of disaster?
6. If the US base can’t be located in Okinawa, where do you think it
should be located?
Thank you!