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U.S. oil storage facility in Yokohama to be returned to Japan

After winding up its 60-year use, the U.S. forces in Japan will return the 53-hectare Koshiba oil storage facility in Yokohama City to Japan within this year. The Japan-U.S. Joint Committee agreed to this on October 18 as part of its plan to return to Japan six U.S. naval facilities totaling 376 hectares in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Last year, the U.S. military accepted Japan's request to return these six sites, including Ikego (1.2 hectares) and the Kamiseya communications complex (50 hectares), in exchange for the Japanese government's approval of building housing units for 700 U.S. military families in the Ikego forest area in Yokohama.

The U.S. Occupation forces requisitioned the former Japanese Imperial Navy's Koshiba communication facility. In 1981 an oil tank exploded, injuring nearby residents.

Both governments reached this agreement after facing residents' surging anger and movement calling for the return of U.S. base sites in the city, including a civil suit calling for the return of the Kamiseya communications complex site that almost ceased its operation. Citizens are angry at the decision made in exchange for accepting the Ikego housing plan.

Hatano Kimie, former Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors, said:

"I've often visited Koshiba's jet and diesel oil storage site where a major explosion occurred, and pressed the government to take steps to restore the base site. This decision means a victory for the long years of struggle by the citizens movement.

Yet, the U.S. and Japanese governments are pressing Kanagawa residents to accept the housing construction in Ikego and relocation of the U.S. Army I Corps headquarters to Zama, which are unacceptable." -- Akahata, October 19, 2005