Japan Press Weekly

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2008 April 2 - 8 [US FORCES]

U.S. bases have 10 golf courses in Japan

There are 10 golf courses on U.S. bases in Japan as part of “welfare facilities” for U.S. servicemen and their families.

The government revealed this on April 1 in its written reply to an inquiry made by a Democratic Party of Japan member of the House of Representatives, explaining that the purpose of these facilities is to provide welfare for and maintain morale of U.S. military personnel.

Those golf courses are located at Misawa Air Base (Aomori), Tama Service Annex (Tokyo), Yokota Base (Tokyo), Atsugi Naval Air Facility (Kanagawa), and Camp Zama (Kanagawa), Iwakuni Air Station (Yamaguchi), Okuma Rest Center (Okinawa), Kadena Air Base (Okinawa), Camp Zukeran (Okinawa), and Kadena Ammunition Storage Area (Okinawa).

Wages for Japanese employees working at the golf courses and other recreation facilities for U.S. servicemen are included in the “sympathy budget” paid by the Japanese government for the stationing of the U.S. forces in Japan.
- Akahata, April 2, 2008