Okinawa | PLACE

A man holds a placard demanding 'No Base In Okinawa' during an anti-war demnstration march in Tokyo on March 20, 2010. Some 600 demontrators marched in central Tokyo, calling for an early withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, as they commemorated the seventh anniversary of the US-led war. The rally also called on US-led troops to withdraw from Afghanistan.

U.S. Marine from 3rd Marine Division, based in Okinawa, Japan, take position with South Korean Marines during the annual joint military exercises, dubbed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, between the United States and South Korea, at U.S. Army's Rodriguez Range in Pocheon, north of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 12, 2010. U.S. troops who would be tasked with eliminating North Korea's weapons of mass destruction in the event of armed conflict are participating in military drills with South Korea, the top U.S. commander in the country said Thursday.

A U.S. Marine from 3rd Marine Division, based in Okinawa, Japan, takes a position with South Korean Marines during the annual joint military exercises, dubbed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, between the United States and South Korea, at U.S. Army's Rodriguez Range in Pocheon, north of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 12, 2010. U.S. troops who would be tasked with eliminating North Korea's weapons of mass destruction in the event of armed conflict are participating in military drills with South Korea, the top U.S. commander in the country said Thursday.

A South Korean Marine, right, is about to throw a smoke grenade as U.S. Marine from 3rd Marine Division, based in Okinawa, Japan, look on during the annual joint military exercises, dubbed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, between the United States and South Korea, at U.S. Army's Rodriguez Range in Pocheon, north of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 12, 2010. U.S. troops who would be tasked with eliminating North Korea's weapons of mass destruction in the event of armed conflict are participating in military drills with South Korea, the top U.S. commander in the country said Thursday.

U.S. Marine from 3rd Marine Division, based in Okinawa, Japan, participate with South Korean Marines in the annual joint military exercises, dubbed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, between the United States and South Korea, at U.S. Army's Rodriguez Range in Pocheon, north of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 12, 2010. U.S. troops who would be tasked with eliminating North Korea's weapons of mass destruction in the event of armed conflict are participating in military drills with South Korea, the top U.S. commander in the country said Thursday.

A U.S. Marine, standing in as a hostile force, lies on the ground as U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, search for other hostile forces during boat raid exercise in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, and their Philippine counterpart search for hostile forces after storming the beach in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT-27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, and their Philippine counterpart prepare to board their rubber boats following boat raid exercise in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, conduct boat raids in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, and their Philippine counterpart prepare to board their rubber boats following boat raid exercise in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, conduct boat raids in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, conduct boat raids in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, BLT 27 Fox company based in Okinawa, Japan, conduct boat raids in the ongoing Joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Philippine Marine Base at Ternate, Cavite province, south of Manila, Philippines. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. and Philippine military are taking part in the annual exercise aimed to enhance interoperability between the two long standing allies. This year's main focus is on disaster, rescue and relief operations.

A Marine runs in front of helicopters on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. Over the years, tens of thousands of protesters have regularly hit the streets of southern Japan's Okinawa Island to demand it be closed. Located smack in the center of a crowded city, it has been called the most dangerous base in the world. It is now slated to be moved, but no one, it seems, wants to be chosen as a candidate for the new site.

U.S. Marines working on their helicopter on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. Over the years, tens of thousands of protesters have regularly hit the streets of southern Japan's Okinawa Island to demand it be closed. Located smack in the center of a crowded city, it has been called the most dangerous base in the world. It is now slated to be moved, but no one, it seems, wants to be chosen as a candidate for the new site.

Yusho Yamanaha, a 75-year-old retiree who has a small onion and carrot farm inside the base's fences, digs up his field on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. Over the years, tens of thousands of protesters have regularly hit the streets of southern Japan's Okinawa Island to demand it be closed. Located smack in the center of a crowded city, it has been called the most dangerous base in the world. It is now slated to be moved, but no one, it seems, wants to be chosen as a candidate for the new site.

A U.S. Marine walks in front of a helicopter on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. Over the years, tens of thousands of protesters have regularly hit the streets of southern Japan's Okinawa Island to demand it be closed. Located smack in the center of a crowded city, it has been called the most dangerous base in the world. It is now slated to be moved, but no one, it seems, wants to be chosen as a candidate for the new site.

A U.S. Marine helicopter trys to land on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. Over the years, tens of thousands of protesters have regularly hit the streets of southern Japan's Okinawa Island to demand it be closed. Located smack in the center of a crowded city, it has been called the most dangerous base in the world. It is now slated to be moved, but no one, it seems, wants to be chosen as a candidate for the new site.

Col. Dale Smith speaks during his interview with The Associated Press on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa, Japan. Over the years, tens of thousands of protesters have regularly hit the streets of southern Japan's Okinawa Island to demand it be closed. Located smack in the center of a crowded city, it has been called the most dangerous base in the world. It is now slated to be moved, but no one, it seems, wants to be chosen as a candidate for the new site.

MOTOBU, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 26: A eight-metre-long Whale shark swims with other fish in a worlds' largest tank with its front panel size of 8.2 metre x 22.5 metre at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on February 26, 2010 in Motobu, Okinawa, Japan. Japan's most popular aquarium attracts more than 2.5 million visitors per year.