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

Kanagawa people protest against noise pollution caused by U.S. carrier aircraft

About 4,000 people on May 21 held a rally in Yamato City in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo to protest against noise pollution caused by U.S. aircraft carrier-borne aircraft using the U.S. Atsugi Naval Air Station, and called for the removal of U.S. military bases in the prefecture.

The 18th annual Kanagawa Peace Fair (or Yamato Peace Festival) was held by the organizing committee and a citizens' association one day before U.S. night landing practices at the Atsugi air base that is situated in densely populated areas with a total of about 1.5 million residents.

Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Kono Koji, Japanese Communist Party Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly members' group leader, criticized the May 1 Japan-U.S. final agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

Participants adopted an appeal calling for, "Ending homeporting of U.S. aircraft carrier at Yokosuka and noise pollution from U.S. fighters; blocking the planned homeporting of U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from 2008 at Yokosuka; No new U.S. and Japanese war commands at U.S. Army Camp Zama; and no realignment of U.S. bases in Kanagawa."

Participants also took part in a "peace walk" near the Atsugi base.

From Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Yoshioka Mitsunori from Iwakuni's association opposing the planned deployment of U.S. carrier-borne aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station from the Atsugi base called for increasing actions against U.S. bases throughout the country.
- Akahata, May 22, 2006