February 2, 2010

Residents of Sukumo in Kochi Prefecture on February 1 held a rally against the entry of the U.S. Navy’s Aegis guided-missile cruiser Lake Erie into the civil Port of Sukumo.

The meeting was organized by the local people’s network against the military use of Sukumo Bay. About 200 local people participated in rally and marched to the wharf where the USS Lake Erie was berthed.

Ibuchi Masazumi, a 62-year-old fisherman, said, “Now is the season of fishing for sardines and mackerels in the Sukumo Bay area. Port-calls by U.S. warships are annoying and disruptive.”

This is the third port-call by U.S. Aegis ships, and the first time for a guided-missile cruiser.
- Akahata, February 2, 2010