The US defence secretary Robert Gates is visiting Japan as its new government signals it wants to review military ties with Washington.<br /><br />While Tokyo says it is committed to the strategic alliance, Japan's newly-elected prime minister has said he wants a "more equal" relationship.<br /><br />One of the key issues is the future of a major US military base on the island of Okinawa.<br /><br />From there, Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett takes a look at what's at stake.
