June 20, 2023

Japan's Foreign Ministry has not checked whether the U.S. military uses hazardous firefighting foams, including per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Kami Tomoko, at a meeting of the House Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems on June 19, took up the issue of PFAS pollution, and said that PFAS-contaminated water had been detected near the base.

Miyamoto Shingo, deputy director-general of the North American Affairs Bureau, said, "I am not aware of any specifics."

Kami in response said, "Unbelievable! The U.S. has strict standards and the U.S. military itself is looking into the situation of PFAS pollution at its installations across the U.S. mainland."

Kami noted that several experts have been proposing that Japan applies relevant domestic laws to the U.S. Forces Japan based on "the principle of sovereignty over the territory", not on the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

Kami demanded that the Japanese government conduct on-site investigations to determine whether PFAS is used at U.S. military facilities in Japan.

Past related articles:
> Meeting held to discuss PFAS problem in and near US bases in Japan [June 5, 2023]
> US applies double standard to Japan regarding PFAS investigations around US military bases [May 6, 2022]