InsideJapan News Network

The head US envoy for Asia, Kurt Campbell, is in Japan for talks to once again try and come to an agreement over the location of a controversial military base.

The base has long been a contentious issue among the two nations and has also come under fierce criticism from locals living near to it.

Currently, it is on the island of Okinawa but under 2006 agreement, it is to be moved to a quieter spot away from the island's urban centre.

However, many have called for the base to be removed all together - and prime minister Yukio Hatoyama has also previously expressed a desire to reduce the nation's reliance on US troops.

US troops have been stationed in Japan since the end of the second world war.

Earlier this week, tens of thousands of Japanese attended a protest calling for the total removal of the military base. Local objectors to the base claim it is noisy and causes pollution in the area.

Written by Kimberley Homer.