U.S. Marines live-fire training

The U.S. Marines in Okinawa on July 30 ended the fifth annual live-fire training with 155mm howitzers that they have carried out since July 22 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Ojojihara training site in Miyagi Prefecture.

Peace and citizens organizations have kept a strict watch on the training and carried out a protest action on its final day.

About 220 Marines took part in the training, which was carried out every day except Sunday. Concentrated shooting repeatedly took place, frightening the people who live around the training field. The number of shots fired was 517, which was the most numerous in the last five years.

A three-storied lodging house for U.S. forces exclusive use has just been constructed, which indicates that the training site is being remodeled into a permanent U.S. base. (end)