Military kawaii: Manga promotes U.S.-Japan alliance following Okinawa base decision

Four comics featuring a Japanese girl and a visiting U.S. boy will be posted online, each exploring how U.S. and Japanese troops work together. A U.S. spokesman said they were intended as a light-hearted explanation of the history of the alliance. The comics, marking 50 years of the security pact, come amid strained ties over U.S. bases in Okinawa. BBC reports.

View the actual manga here: http://www.usfj.mil/Manga/Vol%201/Index.html.

In June,  Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned over the controversy about the continued presence of thousands of U.S. troops stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. He promised but failed to bring about their relocation. The new government in Tokyo is facing the same problem with little prospect of a solution.

More coverage:

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/08/03/us-militarys-new-japan-mission-manga/

http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/252204/us_military_uses__manga_to_reach_out_to_japan/