Washington, Rabi'I 23, 1438, December 22, 2016, SPA -- The United States has returned nearly 4,000 hectares on Okinawa to the Japanese government, the single largest such return of land on the Japanese island since 1972, the US State Department said Wednesday, according to dpa. The move reduces the amount land utilized by the US on Okinawa by 20 per cent, "while ensuring our capability to fulfil our security treaty commitments," US State Department spokesman John Kirby said. The relinquished swathe had been the former northern training area. "The return exemplifies the cooperative nature of the US-Japan alliance and advances our commitment to the realignment of US forces in Japan," Kirby said. A handover ceremony took place in Tokyo Wednesday with US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Kirby said, and another was planned for Thursday with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Okinawa. The US conquered Okinawa during World War II and returned it to Japan in 1972. Nevertheless, the US military maintains a presence on the island, which has led to friction with local residents through the years. --SPA 02:03 LOCAL TIME 23:03 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w295943