The Japanese island chain of Okinawa has marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the US occupation.

The Japanese island chain of Okinawa has marked the 50th anniversary of the end of US occupation after 27 years and its return to Japan.

Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture reports record daily coronavirus infections fueled by the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant largely blamed on US forces stationed there.

Japan decided on Friday to declare quasi-emergency measures in three regions in order to stem a COVID-19 surge that some officials have linked to US military bases in the country.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has urged the US to impose restrictions on the troops stationed in Japan amid a spread of COVID-19 cases among the US military personnel.

Japan is considering declaring a state of emergency in the southern island of Okinawa, after the region emerged as the epicenter of a new coronavirus surge, with officials saying the virus keeps spreading from US bases.

Governor of Japan’s Okinawa prefecture slams the US military over its failure to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at its bases in the country and allowing the Omicron variant to spill over to the local population.