Japan Press Weekly

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2014 December 24 - 2015 January 6 [US FORCES]

US military frequently conducts parachute training exercises in Tokyo suburbs

U.S. forces have frequently conducted parachute training exercises at the U.S. Yokota Air Base, which sprawls over six municipalities and is located about 40km west of central Tokyo.

The U.S. military carried out parachute training drills 12 times this past year. It already informed the six municipalities about its plan to hold its first drill between January 5 and January 9, 2015.

Recently, the U.S. military has conducted parachute landing drills without giving advance notice.

In August, the U.S. Marine Corps held parachute training exercises without giving advance notice to the relevant municipalities. At the time of the parachute training drills in October, the six local governments received notification of the drills via Japan’s Defense Ministry just before the start of the drills.

The Japan Peace Committee’s local branch in Hamura City, one of the six municipalities affected, reported that in the October training exercises, the U.S. military conducted nighttime parachute jumps 10 times, which included jumps from a height of 3,000 meters.

The Liaison Council of local governments hosting the U.S. Yokota Air Base, including the Tokyo Metropolitan government, calls on the U.S. military to provide information regarding its training exercises in advance. The council also urges the U.S. military to take measures, such as banning low-altitude flight training exercises over residential areas, to ensure the safety of people living near the base.