On April 12, 1996, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto held a joint press conference with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale. "Japan and the United States have agreed to the full return of Futenma Air Base within five to seven years." I will never forget it. That press conference, which I was glued to in front of the television, was the beginning of everything. Today marks 30 years since then.
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On April 12, 1996, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto held a joint press conference with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale. "Japan and the United States have agreed to the full return of Futenma Air Base within five to seven years." I will never forget it. That press conference, which I was glued to in front of the television, was the beginning of everything. Today marks 30 years since then.