Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

5,000 Tokyoites rally to oppose US plan to deploy CV-22s to Yokota AB

In protest against the planned deployment of CV-22 Ospreys to the U.S. Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, more than 5,000 citizens rallied on November 21 at a park in Fussa City in western Tokyo.

At the rally, Tokyo Regional Council of Trade Unions (Tokyo Chihyo) President Morita Minoru gave a speech representing the organizing committee. He called on participants to work together in order to expand the campaign opposing the deployment throughout the country.

Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Koike Akira delivered a speech in solidarity. He pointed out that about 510,000 people are living in the six municipalities surrounding the Yokota base and that within 10 kilometers of the base are over 90 public facilities, including schools and childcare centers. Citing the fact that even the U.S. Congress has expressed concern over flaws found in the tilt-rotor aircraft, he stressed that the planned deployment will further endanger the lives of local residents.

Koike also referred to another plan to set up a bilateral joint operations center at the base with the aim of placing the Japanese Self-Defense Forces under the full control of the U.S. military. Noting that both plans embody the enacted security legislation, he underscored the need to abolish the war legislation.

Shimizu Koichi, secretary-general of the plaintiffs’ group seeking an end to flight training exercises at the Yokota base, said, “Even on weeknights, the deafening sound of U.S. aircraft echoes around the vicinity every three or four minutes. We cannot hear TV programs even with the volume turned all the way up.”

Imai Toru of a local teachers’ union said, “My school is located close to the base and the classroom often goes black suddenly with the shadow of a U.S. airplane passing overhead. We don’t want the Ospreys or the military facility here.”

Following the rally, the protesters paraded around the venue holding various banners and placards.

Past related article:
> US military plans to conduct Osprey flight drills throughout Japan [October 16, 2015]