InfinitePrep

Since Hatoyama took office last September, the United States military presence in Japan has faced frequent criticism. Okinawa is a flashpoint in discussions, and Japanese leaders insist that this year will be a critical year for US-Japanese alliance dynamics:

But facing economic woes and seeking a more equal relationship with the U.S., Japan’s new reformist government is questioning whether it should spend so much on U.S. troops – a topic that was taboo under the pro-Washington administrations that governed Japan for most of the post-World War II era.
The scrutiny in Japan, Washington’s deep-pocketed ally and most important strategic partner in Asia, comes at a bad time for the U.S., whose defense budget is already spread thin in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Japanese call their share a “kindness budget,” implying the U.S. is getting a free ride, and its opponents say it is rife with waste. The opposition also reflects a long-standing feeling, particularly on the left, that the U.S. is taking its security alliance with Japan too much for granted.