But the passage comes amid lingering criticism among opposition parties and affected local authorities over the ''carrot and stick'' tactics of the legislation, which features subsidies to local governments based on the degree to which they cooperate with the realignment.

The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and its partner, the New Komeito party, pressed the bill through the House of Councillors by a majority vote at a plenary session, completing the legislative process following the bill's approval April 13 by the House of Representatives.

The law is designed to provide state subsidies conditionally and incrementally in four stages to municipalities that host or are located near bases where the U.S. military presence is expected to be substantial.

The government came up with the hard-line subsidy method after failing to implement a 1996 agreement with the United States to vacate 11 U.S. military facilities, including the Futemma relocation, even though it promoted development measures in affected local areas.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 26, 2007
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