In Photos: Gov't begins Henoko base landfill work despite Okinawans' pleas

Preparation work ahead of the start of land reclamation work is seen underway off the coastal Henoko district of the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

At the site of land reclamation work along the coast of the Henoko district, soil and sand is unloaded from a dump truck in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

People sit for a protest against land reclamation work to build a new U.S. military base off the Henoko coast in front of the gate to U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

A woman in a wheelchair shouts during a protest against land reclamation work to build a new U.S. base while she is removed by police officers, in front of the gate to U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab, in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

Demonstrators protesting against land reclamation work to build a new U.S. base off the Henoko coast gather in front of the gate to U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab, in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

Demonstrators raise their voices against land reclamation work to build a new U.S. base off the Henoko coast, in front of the fences of U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab, in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

Demonstrators on canoes and a boat protest against land reclamation work to build a new U.S. military base off the coast of the Henoko district of the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi/Takeshi Noda)

The start of land reclamation work is seen from a Mainichi Shimbun helicopter off the coast of the Henoko district of the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi)

The land reclamation work off the coast of the Henoko district and boats of protesters are seen from a Mainichi Shimbun helicopter in the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi)

The start of land reclamation work is seen from a Mainichi Shimbun helicopter off the coast of the Henoko district of the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Mainichi)