Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 22 - 28 [POLITICS]

Osprey flies over elementary school during sports meet

Amid increasing protests from local residents and peace groups, a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft on October 25 landed at the U.S. Navy Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture after flying over an elementary school holding a sports day event.

The protesters assembled in a park near the base to express their opposition to the Osprey flight by raising placards that read, “Ospreys, No!”

On the same day, in Chiba’s Kisarazu City, citizens held a rally to protest against a plan to designate the Ground Self-Defense Force Kisarazu Station as a site for the maintenance of MV-22s, with around 500 people taking part.

On behalf of the rally organizer, Chiba Prefectural Federation of Trade Unions Chair Matsumoto Satoru said, “Let’s work to put an end to the Abe administration’s attempt to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation.”

After the rally, the participants marched in a demonstration march, shouting, “No Ospreys in Japan!”

On the following day, an MV-22 went on exhibition at an annual event at the Air SDF Hyakuri base in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, attending the event, boarded the Osprey and received explanations of the aircraft from U.S. military officials.