U.S. Marines starts live-shell firing drill at the foot of Mt. Fuji

Japan Press Weekly

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

U.S. Marines starts live-shell firing drill at the foot of Mt. Fuji

The U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa started its live-shell firing exercises on November 2 at the Kita-Fuji (North-Fuji) maneuver grounds of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force in Yamanashi Prefecture.

This is the 9th exercise at the Kita Fuji training site, and the first in three years. The Japanese and U.S. authorities say that the exercise will be conducted for 10 days until November 13 and that they will involve nighttime exercises as well.

In 1997, live-fire training exercises by the Marines in Okinawa were moved to Kita Fuji, Yausubetsu in Hokkaido and three other exercise grounds, ostensibly to decrease Okinawans' burdens related to the U.S. military presence.

“We protest the forcible start of the live-fire exercise. The training here this time cannot be the ‘same in its quality and quantity as in Okinawa. The nighttime exercises, which have not been conducted in Okinawa, is totally unacceptable,” said Shimizu Yutaka, secretary of the Yamanashi Prefectural Liaison Council against the Relocation of U.S. Forces to Kita Fuji.

The liaison council and other peace organizations held a meeting on November 1 in Fujiyoshida City where the Kita Fuji exercise ground is located, and adopted a resolution demanding that Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio’s administration review and stop the relocation of the live-fire exercise. They also expressed opposition to the realignment and consolidation of U.S. military bases in Japan and the construction of a new base in Henoko, Okinawa.

- Akahata, November 3, 2009