Japan Press Weekly

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2012 April 18 - 24 [US FORCES]

Residents call for removal of US base from downtown Tokyo

Local citizens’ groups on April 18 held a rally at Aoyama Park in downtown Tokyo to call for the removal of a U.S. military helicopter base which is illegally occupying a part of the park.

Around 110 people from various labor unions and citizens’ groups participated in the rally.

Kawasaki Satoru, on behalf of an organizing committee of the rally, reported that they formed a partnership with a citizens’ group which is working for the removal of the U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo's western outskirts. Pointing to the annoying helicopter noise and the risk of a possible crash, Kawasaki called on participants to continue their protest actions until the park is restored.

After the rally, the participants marched around the base and down the streets of Roppongi, Tokyo’s most stylish district.

“It is shame that the center of the metropolis is illegally occupied by the U.S. Forces. We will make this situation known to everyone,” one of the participants commented.