Watch NHK WORLD PRIME Season 6 Episode 24 Online

In May, people in Japan's southwestern islands of Okinawa marked 50 years since the American military rule came to an end. Though the fierce battle scars linger, the islanders are now caught up in the rising tensions between the US and China over Taiwan. And the nation's Self-Defense Forces are boosting their presence. We look at how the new geopolitical situation poses big security questions to the islands. And we follow young people there, who are joining the SDF, to gauge their swinging emotions.