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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Zama does not want US Army I Corps

With Mayor Hoshino Katsuji in the lead, the whole of Zama City in Kanagawa Prefecture is making efforts to block the transfer of the U.S. Army I Corps to Camp Zama located in the city.

On September 15, about 30 people, including Mayor Hoshino, City Assembly Chairman Sone Toshitaro, and City Assembly member Kikukawa Yuriko (Japanese Communist Party) conducted an opposition campaign at a train station in the city and handed out flyers to Zama citizens.

Stating that he submitted a petition to the government signed by about 60,000 citizens, nearly half of the population of the city, Mayor Hoshino said, "Japan-U.S. consultations reportedly will release an interim report on the matter in October. The government promised to sincerely respond to Zama citizens' will, but it doesn't reveal any of the content of such consultations to the city. We cannot allow Camp Zama to be strengthened further and become more permanent in nature."

Handed a flyer, a 25-year-old student said, "Seeing the mayor calling for opposition, I now understand that the whole city really does not want the U.S. Army I Corps to come." -- Akahata, September 16, 2005