Chances growing Japan may sign off on U.S. base - media

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Asahi newspaper reported on Saturday that chances are growing Japan may sign off on a plan to reposition a U.S. Marine air base, which would help clear the way for a realignment of U.S. troops in the country.

An agreement would ease growing tension with the United States over the reorganisation, an issue which could fray ties with Washington.

The Sankei newspaper reported on Friday Japan would tell U.S. President Barack Obama when he visits next month that it would craft a new plan by the end of the year to relocate the base on the southern island of Okinawa, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said there had been no such decision.

The Asahi said Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama had indicated that a decision would be made on the issue by the end of the year. It gave no other details.

Since it would be difficult to find an alternate location for the base by that time, chances were growing that the government would have to accept the original plan or one with slight modifications, the Asahi said.

Concerns are growing about friction over the long-planned reorganisation of the U.S. military presence in Japan, the first big test of ties between Washington and a new Japanese government that wants more equal relations with its closest security ally.

How Hatoyama copes with the dispute could also affect voter support for his month-old government, now riding high at about 70 percent in most polls, especially if he looks indecisive.

Central to the reorganisation deal is a plan to move the functions of the Futenma air base -- located in a crowded urban area of Okinawa -- to a more remote part of the island.

It also involves shifting 8,000 Marines to the U.S. territory of Guam, partly at Japan's expense.