Universal Studios Okinawa Given PM’s Blessing

A government representative said it was “important” to increase the number of tourists who visit the prefecture, which is the poorest in the country. Okinawa also shoulders the largest burden of American armed force in Japan, with many communities divided as to whether they want American bases to stay on the island.

Some people rely on the bases for their livelihood, while others feel their lives have been disrupted by the central government prioritizing U.S. military requests regarding use of land and air space. USJ currently runs a theme park in Osaka, and in September it was revealed that the Okinawan prefectural government was thinking of inviting the company to build another one in its bailiwick, near the city of Nago.

However, experts wonder if the prefecture can sustain such an enterprise. USJ Osaka is a big success now, though it struggled to make a profit for years after opening. Experts say the reason for the eventual success is repeaters, relatively wealthy local residents who come to USJ several times a year.

Okinawans do not have as much disposable income and while tourism is an important industry on the island, it’s doubtful that the number of visitors will increase much just because of the existence of a USJ theme park.