Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga said Monday he plans to visit the United States this month in a bid to stop the planned relocation of the U.S. Marines' air base at Futenma to the less populous Henoko region in the prefecture.

The Okinawan government and the central government have been at loggerheads over the issue since Onaga was elected last November. Onaga has met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and, most recently, with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. However, the two sides have failed to narrow their differences, with Onaga adamant that the base relocation will not proceed.

Furthermore, Onaga has expressed his displeasure that Abe did not convey the prefecture’s stance when he met U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington last month.

Onaga told a news conference in Naha that he will be in Washington from May 30 until June 4, Fuji TV reported. Prior to arriving in Washington, Onaga will first visit Hawaii from May 27.

Okinawan government officials said Onaga's itinerary has not yet been finalized, but it is unlikely he will be able to meet anyone at the cabinet level.

Onaga said he hopes to speak with members of the Defense and State departments, as well as members of Congress, to directly voice his opposition to the base relocation. "I will say that not only will we not let the base be built, it simply cannot happen. I hope the U.S. side will hear me as I relay the voices of the people of Okinawa who call that area home."

Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine will also accompany Onaga to Washington.

© Japan Today