Thousands of people have protested on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa demanding the removal of a US military base thereNovember 8, 2009 - The local mayor called on new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama "to put an end to Okinawa's burden and ordeal".
Japan and the US agreed in 2006 to relocate the Futenma base from an urban area to reclaimed land but the PM's election has rekindled opposition.
The protest comes ahead of this week's visit by US President Barack Obama.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says the row over the relocation of the base threatens to sour relations between Japan's new government and the country's key security ally.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada warned it was unlikely to be resolved before Mr Obama arrives in Japan on Friday.
Japan's new government has expressed a determination to have a less subservient relationship with the US.
