Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2023 August 16 - 22 [US FORCES]

Cross-party assemblymembers of Tokyo's 3 cities protest against emergency landing of US aircraft

Cross-party assemblymembers of three cities in Tokyo, in response to an emergency landing of U.S. aircraft at a Tokyo-run airport, made representations on August 18 to the three city governments, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the Defense Ministry, demanding that measures be taken to prevent a recurrence.

On August 11, a helicopter stationed at the U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo made the emergency landing at the Chofu Airport (Chofu, Mitaka, Fuchu cities). The airport is located in a dense residential area about 18 kilometers from the Yokota AB.

The group of assemblymembers consisted of 17 lawmakers from the Japanese Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, independents, the "Seikatsusha" Network, and the "Reiwa Shinsengumi" party.

In the representation to the Metropolitan Government, Maeda Mai, a JCP member of the Mitaka City Assembly, said, "The aircraft couldn't even fly a 10-minute distance back to its base. Was it a serious incident? This could have threatened the safety of local residents' lives."

Tamura Yuko, a JCP member of the Chofu City Assembly, said, "The Metropolitan Government should make a strong request to the central government and the U.S. military to prevent an occurrence."

A Tokyo Metropolitan Government official responded that Tokyo already made an oral request to the U.S. Forces Japan on August 17 to investigate the case and to swiftly provide pertinent information to the surrounding municipalities. The official, however, admitted that there has been no response from the U.S. military so far.