Jump to content

United States Forces Japan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from US Forces Japan)

United States Forces Japan
在日米軍
USFJ insignia
Active1 July 1957 — present
(67 years, 4 months)
Country United States
TypeSubordinate unified combatant command
Size35,688 (approx.)
Part of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
HeadquartersYokota Air Base, Fussa, Tokyo
Websitewww.usfj.mil
Commanders
CommanderLt Gen Stephen F. Jost
Deputy CommanderMajGen George B. Rowell IV, USMC
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Leon O. Calloway, USAF

The United States Forces Japan (USFJ) (Japanese: 在日米軍, Hepburn: Zainichi Beigun) is a subordinate unified command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. It was activated at Fuchū Air Station in Tokyo, Japan, on 1 July 1957 to replace the Far East Command.[1] USFJ is headquartered at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo and is commanded by the Commander, US Forces Japan who is also commander of the Fifth Air Force. Since then, it is the first and only sustained presence of a foreign military on Japanese soil in its history.

USFJ oversees U.S. military personnel, assets, and installations in Japan, including approximately 55,000 active-duty servicemembers and 15 major bases.[2] USFJ supports U.S. responsibilities under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, and its activities are governed by the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan. The command plays a major role in security-related coordination and dialogue with the Government of Japan and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

In July 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that USFJ would be upgraded to a "joint operational headquarters," a move U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin characterized as "the most significant change to U.S. Forces Japan since its creation".[3]

History

[edit]
U.S. Marines with JGSDF soldiers at Camp Kinser
United States forces assisted Japan via Operation Tomodachi following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in Asia, the United States Armed Forces assumed administrative authority in Japan. The Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were decommissioned, and the U.S. Armed Forces took control of Japanese military bases until a new government could be formed and positioned to reestablish authority. Allied forces planned to demilitarize Japan, and the new government adopted the Constitution of Japan with a no-armed-force clause in 1947.

After the Korean War began in 1950, Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan, in agreement with the Japanese government, established the paramilitary "National Police Reserve", which was later developed into the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It means the de facto remilitarization of postwar Japan.

In 1951, the Treaty of San Francisco was signed by the Allies and Japan, which restored its formal sovereignty. At the same time, the U.S. and Japan signed the Japan-America Security Alliance. By this treaty, USFJ is responsible for the defense of Japan. As part of this agreement, the Japanese government requested that the U.S. military bases remain in Japan and agreed to provide funds and various interests specified in the Status of Forces Agreement. At the expiration of the treaty, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan. The status of the United States Forces Japan was defined in the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement. This treaty is still in effect, and it forms the basis of Japan's foreign policy.

During the Vietnam War, U.S. military bases in Japan, especially those in the Okinawa Prefecture, were used as important strategic and logistic bases. In 1970, the Koza riot occurred against the U.S. military presence on Okinawa. Strategic bombers were deployed to the bases on Okinawa. Before the 1972 reversion of the island to Japanese administration, it has been speculated but never confirmed that up to 1,200 nuclear weapons may have been stored at Kadena Air Base during the 1960s.[4]

The Japanese government paid ¥217 billion (US$2.0 billion) in 2007[5] as annual host-nation support called Omoiyari Yosan (思いやり予算, sympathy budget or compassion budget).[6] As of the 2011 budget, such payment was no longer to be referred to as omoiyari yosan or "sympathy budget".[7] Japan compensates 75% ($4.4 billion) of U.S. basing costs.[8]

Immediately after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, 9,720 dependents of United States military and government civilian employees in Japan evacuated the country, mainly to the United States.[9]

The relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko Bay was resolved in December 2013 with the signing of a landfill agreement by the governor of Okinawa. Under the terms of the U.S.-Japan agreement, 5,000 U.S. Marines were relocated to Guam, and 4,000 Marines were sent to other Pacific locations such as Hawaii or Australia, while around 10,000 Marines were to remain on Okinawa.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] No timetable for the Marines redeployment was announced, but The Washington Post reported that U.S. Marines would leave Okinawa as soon as suitable facilities on Guam and elsewhere were ready.[13] The relocation move was expected to cost $8.6 billion,[10] including a $3.1 billion cash commitment from Japan for the move to Guam as well as for developing joint training ranges on Guam and on Tinian and Pagan in the Northern Mariana Islands.[11] Certain parcels of land on Okinawa which were leased for use by the American military were supposed to be turned back to Japanese control via a long-term phased return process according to the agreement.[13] These returns have been ongoing since 1972.[citation needed] In October 2020, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz was activated on Guam. The new base is meant to house Marines relocated from Okinawa, with the final relocation planned for 2025.[17]

In March 2024, media reporting suggested that the organizational remit and status of USFJ would be changed--possibly including the creation of a new joint task force as well as the elevation of the USFJ commander's rank--as part of a broader 'upgrading' of the U.S.-Japan alliance to be announced during the April 2024 visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the United States.[18] As part of that visit, Prime Minister Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden stated the following in a Joint Leaders' Statement:

Recognizing the speed at which regional security challenges evolve and to ensure our bilateral Alliance structures meet these critical changes, we announce our intention to bilaterally upgrade our respective command and control frameworks to enable seamless integration of operations and capabilities and allow for greater interoperability and planning between U.S. and Japanese forces in peacetime and during contingencies. More effective U.S.-Japan Alliance command and control will strengthen deterrence and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of pressing regional security challenges. We call on our respective defense and foreign ministries to develop this new relationship through the Security Consultative Committee (our security “2+2”).[19]

In July 2024, DOD announced that USFJ would be upgraded to a joint operational headquarters. According to one DOD official, this will result in USFJ transitioning from a primarily "administrative command" into an organization with more operational and warfighting responsibilities.[20]

United States presence debate

[edit]
See also: Okinawa Island § U.S. military in Okinawa, and Protests of US military presence in Okinawa

As of May 2022, the stationing of U.S. military personnel at military facilities across Okinawa Island remains a hotly-contested and controversial issue, with the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma often being at the forefront of protests against the presence of U.S. military presence on the island.[21][22][23] Okinawa makes up only 0.6% of the nation's land area;[24] yet, approximately 62% of United States bases in Japan (exclusive use only) are on Okinawa.[25][26] Despite an agreement to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma first being reached by the Japanese and U.S. governments in 1996, progress to relocate the base has stalled because of the protests as well as environmental concerns resulting from the construction, operation and relocation of the base.[21][22][27][28]

Do they need bases in Henoko or Futenma? Are they unnecessary? Even aside from this discussion, security is changing.—Former Japan Minister of Defense Fumio Kyuma[29]

The U.S. government employs over eight thousand Master Labor Contract/Indirect Hire Agreement workers on Okinawa (per the Labor Management Organization), not including Okinawan contract workers.[30]

There is also debate over the Status of Forces Agreement since it covers a variety of administrative technicalities blending the systems which control how certain situations are handled between the U.S.'s and Japan's legal framework.[31]

Surveys among Japanese

[edit]

In May 2010, a survey of the Okinawan people conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun and the Ryūkyū Shimpō, found that 71% of Okinawans surveyed thought that the presence of Marines on Okinawa was not necessary (15% said it was necessary). When asked what they thought about 62% of exclusive use United States Forces Japan bases being concentrated on Okinawa, 50% said that the number should be reduced and 41% said that the bases should be removed. When asked about the US-Japan security treaty, 55% said it should be a peace treaty, 14% said it should be abolished, and 7% said it should be maintained.[32]

Many of the bases, such as Yokota Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Kadena Air Base, are located in the vicinity of residential districts, and local citizens have complained about excessive aircraft noise.[33][34][35] The 2014 poll by Ryūkyū Shimpō found that 80% of surveyed Okinawans want the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma moved out of the prefecture.[36] On 25 June 2018, Okinawan residents protested against the construction of a new airfield. Activists holding placards and banners went to sea on 70 boats and ships. Protesters urged the Japanese authorities to stop the expansion of the U.S. military presence on the island. Some of the boats went to the guarded construction site, where they came across the Coast Guard patrol vessels. Some activists were arrested for entering a prohibited zone.[37]

On 11 August 2018, about 70,000 protesters gathered at a park in the prefecture capital of Naha to protest the planned relocation of a U.S. military base on the southern Japanese island. Opponents of the relocation said the plan to move Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded neighborhood to a less populated coastal site would not only affect the environment, but would also go against local wishes to have the base moved from the island entirely.[38]

Crime

[edit]
GIs in Recreation and Amusement Association during occupation of Japan

At the beginning of the occupation of Japan in 1945, many U.S. soldiers participated in the Special Comfort Facility Association.[39] The Japanese government organised the enslavement of 55,000 women to work providing sexual services to U.S. military personnel before the surrender.[39] On discovery of the program, the association was closed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.[39]

Between 1972 and 2009, U.S. servicemen committed 5,634 criminal offenses, including 25 murders, 385 burglaries, 25 arsons, 127 rapes, 306 assaults, and 2,827 thefts.[40] Yet, per Marine Corps Installations Pacific data, U.S. service members are convicted of far fewer crimes than local Okinawans.[41] According to the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, when U.S. personnel crimes are committed both off-duty and off-base, they should be prosecuted under the Japanese law.[42] In 2008 the National Police Agency released its annual criminal statistics that included activity within the Okinawa prefecture. These findings held American troops were only convicted of 53 crimes per 10,000 U.S. male servicemen, while Okinawan males were convicted of 366 crimes per 10,000. The crime rate found a U.S. serviceman on Okinawa to be 86% less likely to be convicted of a crime by the Japanese government than an Okinawan male.[43]

In more recent history, "crimes ranging from rape to assault and hit-and-run accidents by U.S. military personnel, dependents and civilians have long sparked protests in the prefecture," stated The Japan Times.[44] "A series of horrific crimes by present and former U.S. military personnel stationed on Okinawa has triggered dramatic moves to try to reduce the American presence on the island and in Japan as a whole," commented The Daily Beast in 2009.[45]

In 1995, the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan schoolgirl by two U.S. Marines and one U.S. sailor led to demands for the removal of all U.S. military bases in Japan. Other controversial incidents include the Girard incident in 1957, the Michael Brown Okinawa assault incident in 2002, the death of the Kinjo family in 1996, and the hit-and-run death of Yuki Uema in 1998. In February 2008, a 38-year-old U.S. Marine based on Okinawa was arrested in connection with the reported rape of a 14-year-old Okinawan girl.[46] This triggered waves of protest against American military presence on Okinawa and led to tight restrictions on off-base activities.[47][48] Although the accuser withdrew her charges, the U.S. military court-martialed the suspect and sentenced him to four years in prison under the stricter rules of the military justice system.[49]

U.S. Forces Japan designated 22 February as a "Day of Reflection" for all U.S. military facilities in Japan and established the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Task Force in an effort to prevent similar incidents.[50] In November 2009, Staff Sergeant Clyde "Drew" Gunn, a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Torii Station was involved in a hit-and-run accident of a pedestrian in Yomitan Village on Okinawa. In April 2010, Gunn was charged with failing to render aid and vehicular manslaughter,[51] and he was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail.[52]

In 2013, Seaman Christopher Browning and Petty Officer 3rd Class Skyler Dozierwalker were found guilty by the Naha District Court of raping and robbing a woman in a parking lot in October. Both admitted committing the crime. The case outraged Okinawans and sparked tougher restrictions for all U.S. military personnel in Japan, including a curfew and drinking restrictions.[53]

On 13 May 2013, in a controversial statement, Toru Hashimoto, Mayor of Osaka and co-leader of the Japan Restoration Association said to a senior American military official at the Marine Corps base on Okinawa that "we can't control the sexual energy of these brave Marines." He said that Marines should make more use of the local adult entertainment industry to reduce sexual crimes against local women.[54] Hashimoto also spoke of the necessity of former Japanese Army comfort women and of prostitutes for the U.S. military in other countries such as Korea.[54]

In June 2016, after a civilian worker at the base was charged with murdering a Japanese woman, thousands of people protested on Okinawa.[55] Organizers estimated turnout at 65,000 people, which was the largest anti-base protests on Okinawa since 1995.[56] In November 2017, an intoxicated U.S. service member was arrested following a vehicle crash on Okinawa that killed the other driver.[57]

Although other crimes committed by U.S. servicemen (as well as crimes by Japanese) have occurred in Japan, the Status of Forces Agreement protects servicemen and their employees. Suspects are usually handed over U.S. bases first so Japanese judicial investigations and trials would be severely restricted. Many offenders who have committed sexual assaults and murders have also escaped trials sometimes through transfer, release or honorary discharges when they are in barracks, which is one of the reasons for antipathy from the victims and other local citizens along with the Japanese government's indecision.[58][59]

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in 2016

Osprey deployment

[edit]

In October 2012, twelve MV-22 Ospreys were transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to replace aging Vietnam-era Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.[60] In October 2013, an additional 12 Ospreys arrived. Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto explained that the Osprey aircraft is safe, adding that two recent accidents were "caused by human factors".[61] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also stated that the Japanese government was convinced of the MV-22's safety.[62] Various incidents involving V-22 Ospreys have occurred on Okinawa.[63][better source needed] On 5 April 2018, it was announced that the U.S. Air Force would officially deploy CV-22 Osprey aircraft at its Yokota Air Base.

Environmental concerns

[edit]
Protestor holding a "no base" sign opposing the relocation of MCAS Futenma

Environmental concerns have taken the forefront of the debate over the presence of U.S. military forces on Okinawa.[64] Since the late 1990s, environmental concerns elevated by both local residents as well as larger Okinawan and Japanese environmental action groups and independent activists have often resulted in public protests and demonstrations against the relocation of existing U.S. military bases and the construction of replacement facilities, which have been labelled by some as examples of "modern colonialism".[65][66][67] In particular, lingering environmental concerns over the disruption or destruction of coastal and marine habitats off the shores of Okinawa from construction, relocation and operation of U.S. military bases on Okinawa, has resulted in the protracted and continuing delayal of plans to relocate military facilities, such as Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.[21][27]

Okinawa dugong lawsuit

[edit]

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, initial plans to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to a new facility located offshore in Henoko Bay were met with strong resistance after sightings of dugong were reported in areas surrounding territory earmarked for the relocated airbase.[68] A critically endangered species, dugong were traditionally fished and hunted throughout Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands.[68] This drew the attention of local, national and international environmental action groups, who raised concerns that land reclamation projects tied to the construction of an offshore airbase in Henoko Bay would result in the destruction of nearby dugong habitats and coastal ecosystems.[69] Despite this, plans were set forth to continue ahead with the relocation of the base, notably, flouting the results of a 1997 referendum where the majority voted to reject a replacement facility.[68]

In opposition to this, in September 2003, a group of Okinawan, Japanese and U.S. environmental organizations filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Federal Court to protest the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.[68] This lawsuit, initially entitled Okinawa Dugong v. Rumsfeld, argued that the U.S. Department of Defense failed to consider the impacts that relocating the base would have upon the local dugong population, in turn, violating the U.S. National Historic Preservation Act.[69] This case was closed in January 2008; notably for the plaintiffs, it was ruled that the Department of Defense, by not considering the impacts of the relocated airbase upon the local dugong population, had in fact violated the National Historic Preservation Act, thus delaying the relocation of the base.[68]

Water contamination

[edit]

Concerns over water contamination have also exacerbated recent tensions surrounding the presence of U.S. military bases in Okinawa.[70] In June 2020, following the announcement of an earlier leak of firefighting foam from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in April 2020, a water quality study conducted by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment published findings of elevated contamination levels of PFOS and PFOA at 37 different water sources near U.S. military bases and industrial areas which exceeded provisional national targets.[71] Further incidents concerning the release of the cancer-inducing toxins also occurred in August 2021, further worsening tensions over the presence of 'alarming' levels of these toxic chemicals.[72][73]

Subsequent tests around Kadena Air Base, specifically the training site 50 meters west of Dakujaku River, confirmed severe contamination in the water system with PFAS chemicals.[74] These chemicals reach 10s of meters underground while plumes spread for several kilometers from these contaminated training sites flowed into nearby wells and waterways of Dakujaku River and Hija River which contaminated the drinking water of 450,000 residents.[74] These toxic chemicals originate from firefighting foams which contain PFAS and were used at training sites during the 1970s and 80s.[74] However, the U.S. and Japanese governments say that the source of the issue cannot be confirmed.[74]

Facilities

[edit]

List of current facilities

[edit]
Military facilities of the United States in Japan, 2016
U.S. military bases in Japan
U.S. military facilities on Okinawa Prefecture

The USFJ headquarters is at Yokota Air Base, about 30 km west of central Tokyo.

The U.S. military installations in Japan and their managing branches are as follows:

Branch
(MilDep)		 USFJ Facilities
Admin Code		 Name of Installation Primary Purpose
(Actual)		 Location
Air Force FAC 1054 Camp Chitose
(Chitose III, Chitose Administration Annex)		 Communications Chitose, Hokkaido
FAC 2001 Misawa Air Base Air Base Misawa, Aomori
FAC 3013 Yokota Air Base Fussa, Tokyo
FAC 3016 Fuchu Communications Station Communications Fuchu, Tokyo
FAC 3019 Tama Service Annex
(Tama Hills Recreation Center)		 Recreation Inagi, Tokyo
FAC 3048 Camp Asaka
(South Camp Drake AFN Transmitter Site)		 Barracks
(Broadcasting)		 Wako, Saitama
FAC 3049 Tokorozawa Communications Station
(Tokorozawa Transmitter Site)		 Communications Tokorozawa, Saitama
FAC 3056 Owada Communication Site Niiza, Saitama
FAC 3162 Yugi Communication Site Hachioji, Tokyo
FAC 4100 Sofu Communication Site Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
FAC 5001 Itazuke Auxiliary Airfield Air Cargo Terminal Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
FAC 5073 Sefurisan Liaison Annex
(Seburiyama Communications Station)		 Communications Kanzaki, Saga
FAC 5091 Tsushima Communication Site Tsushima, Nagasaki
FAC 6004 Okuma Rest Center Recreation Kunigami, Okinawa
FAC 6006 Yaedake Communication Site Communications Motobu, Okinawa
FAC 6022 Kadena Ammunition Storage Area Storage Onna, Okinawa
FAC 6037 Kadena Air Base Air Base Kadena, Okinawa
FAC 6077 Tori Shima Range Training Kumejima, Okinawa
FAC 6078 Idesuna Jima Range Tonaki, Okinawa
FAC 6080 Kume Jima Range Kumejima, Okinawa
Army FAC 2070 Shariki Communication Site Communications Tsugaru, Aomori
FAC 3004 Akasaka Press Center
(Hardy Barracks)		 Office Minato, Tokyo
FAC 3067 Yokohama North Dock Port Facility Yokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3079 Camp Zama Office Zama, Kanagawa
FAC 3084 Sagami General Depot Logistics Sagamihara, Kanagawa
FAC 3102 Sagamihara Housing Area Housing
Kyogamisaki Communication Site Communications Kyōtango, Kyoto
FAC 4078 Akizuki Ammunition Depot Storage Etajima, Hiroshima
FAC 4083 Kawakami Ammunition Depot Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
FAC 4084 Hiro Ammunition Depot Kure, Hiroshima
FAC 4152 Kure Pier No.6 Port Facility
FAC 4611 Haigamine Communication Site Communications
FAC 6007 Gesaji Communication Site Higashi, Okinawa
FAC 6036 Torii Communications Station
(Torii Station)		 Yomitan, Okinawa
FAC 6064 Naha Port Port Facility Naha, Okinawa
FAC 6076 Army POL Depots Storage Uruma, Okinawa
Navy FAC 2006 Hachinohe POL Depot Hachinohe, Aomori
FAC 2012 Misawa ATG Range
(R130, Draughon Range)		 Training Misawa, Aomori
FAC 3033 Kisarazu Auxiliary Landing Field Air Facility Kisarazu, Chiba
FAC 3066 Negishi Dependent Housing Area
(Naval Housing Annex Negishi)		 Housing Yokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3083 Naval Air Facility Atsugi Air Facility Ayase, Kanagawa
FAC 3087 Ikego Housing Area and Navy Annex Housing Zushi, Kanagawa
FAC 3090 Azuma Storage Area Storage Yokosuka, Kanagawa
FAC 3096 Kamiseya Communications Station - returned to Japanese Gov 2015
(Naval Support Facility Kamiseya - returned to Japanese Gov 2015)		 Communications
(Housing)		 Yokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3097 Fukaya Communication Site
(Naval Transmitter Station Totsuka)		 Communications
FAC 3099 United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka Port Facility Yokosuka, Kanagawa
FAC 3117 Urago Ammunition Depot Storage
FAC 3144 Tsurumi POL Depot Yokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3181 Iwo Jima Communication Site Communications
(Training)		 Ogasawara, Tokyo
FAC 3185 New Sanno U.S. Forces Center Recreation Minato, Tokyo
FAC 5029 United States Fleet Activities Sasebo Port Facility Sasebo, Nagasaki
FAC 5030 Sasebo Dry Dock Area
FAC 5032 Akasaki POL Depot Storage
FAC 5033 Sasebo Ammunition Supply Point
FAC 5036 Iorizaki POL Depot
FAC 5039 Yokose POL Depot Saikai, Nagasaki
FAC 5050 Harioshima Ammunition Storage Area Sasebo, Nagasaki
FAC 5086 Tategami Basin Port Area Port Facility
FAC 5118 Sakibe Navy Annex Hangar
FAC 5119 Hario Dependent Housing Area
(Hario Family Housing Area)		 Housing
FAC 6028 Tengan Pier Port Facility Uruma, Okinawa
FAC 6032 Camp Shields Barracks Okinawa, Okinawa
FAC 6046 Awase Communications Station Communications
FAC 6048 White Beach Area Port Facility Uruma, Okinawa
FAC 6084 Kobi Sho Range Training Ishigaki, Okinawa
FAC 6085 Sekibi Sho Range
FAC 6088 Oki Daito Jima Range Kitadaito, Okinawa
Marine
Corps		 FAC 3127 Camp Fuji Barracks Gotenba, Shizuoka
FAC 3154 Numazu Training Area Training Numazu, Shizuoka
FAC 4092 Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Air Station Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
FAC 6001 Northern Training Area
(Incl. Camp Gonsalves)		 Training Kunigami, Okinawa
FAC 6005 Ie Jima Auxiliary Airfield Ie, Okinawa
FAC 6009 Camp Schwab Nago, Okinawa
FAC 6010 Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot Storage
FAC 6011 Camp Hansen Training Kin, Okinawa
FAC 6019 Kin Red Beach Training Area
FAC 6020 Kin Blue Beach Training Area
FAC 6029 Camp Courtney Barracks Uruma, Okinawa
FAC 6031 Camp McTureous
FAC 6043 Camp Kuwae (Camp Lester) Medical Facility Chatan, Okinawa
FAC 6044 Camp Zukeran (Camp Foster) Barracks
FAC 6051 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Air Station Ginowan, Okinawa
FAC 6056 Makiminato Service Area (Camp Kinser) Logistics Urasoe, Okinawa
FAC 6082 Tsuken Jima Training Area Training Uruma, Okinawa

Joint Use Facilities and Areas

Temporary use facilities and areas are as follows:

USFJ Facilities
Admin Code		 Name of Installation Primary
Purpose		 Location
FAC 1066 Camp Higashi Chitose (JGSDF) Training Chitose, Hokkaido
FAC 1067 Hokkaido Chitose Maneuver Area (JGSDF)
FAC 1068 Chitose Air Base (JASDF) Air Base
FAC 1069 Betsukai Yausubetsu Large Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Training Betsukai, Hokkaido
FAC 1070 Camp Kushiro (JGSDF) Barracks Kushiro, Hokkaido
FAC 1071 Camp Shikaoi (JGSDF) Training Shikaoi, Hokkaido
FAC 1072 Kamifurano Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Kamifurano, Hokkaido
FAC 1073 Camp Sapporo (JGSDF) Sapporo, Hokkaido
FAC 1074 Shikaoi Shikaribetsu Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Shikaoi, Hokkaido
FAC 1075 Camp Obihiro (JGSDF) Obihiro, Hokkaido
FAC 1076 Asahikawa Chikabumidai Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Asahikawa, Hokkaido
FAC 1077 Camp Okadama (JGSDF) Recreation Sapporo, Hokkaido
FAC 1078 Nayoro Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Training Nayoro, Hokkaido
FAC 1079 Takikawa Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Takikawa, Hokkaido
FAC 1080 Bihoro Training Area (JGSDF) Bihoro, Hokkaido
FAC 1081 Kutchan Takamine Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Kutchan, Hokkaido
FAC 1082 Engaru Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Engaru, Hokkaido
FAC 2062 Camp Sendai (JGSDF) Sendai, Miyagi
FAC 2063 Camp Hachinohe (JGSDF) Barracks Hachinohe, Aomori
FAC 2064 Iwate Iwatesan Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Training Takizawa, Iwate
FAC 2065 Taiwa Ojojihara Large Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Taiwa, Miyagi
FAC 2066 Kasuminome Airfield (JGSDF) Airfield Sendai, Miyagi
FAC 2067 Aomori Kotani Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Training Aomori, Aomori
FAC 2068 Hirosaki Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Hirosaki, Aomori
FAC 2069 Jinmachi Otakane Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Murayama, Yamagata
FAC 3104 Nagasaka Rifle Range (JGSDF) Yokosuka, Kanagawa
FAC 3183 Fuji Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi
Gotenba, Shizuoka
FAC 3184 Camp Takigahara (JGSDF) Gotenba, Shizuoka
FAC 3186 Takada Sekiyama Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Joetsu, Niigata
FAC 3187 Hyakuri Air Base (JASDF) Air Base Omitama, Ibaraki
FAC 3188 Soumagahara Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Training Shinto, Gunma
FAC 3189 Camp Asaka (JGSDF) Training Asaka, Saitama
FAC 4161 Komatsu Air Base (JASDF) Air Base Komatsu, Ishikawa
FAC 4162 1st Service School (JMSDF) Training Etajima, Hiroshima
FAC 4163 Haramura Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
FAC 4164 Imazu Aibano Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Takashima, Shiga
FAC 4165 Gifu Air Base (JASDF) Recreation Kakamigahara, Gifu
FAC 4166 Camp Itami (JGSDF) Training Itami, Hyogo
FAC 4167 Nihonbara Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Nagi, Okayama
FAC 4168 Miho Air Base (JASDF) Air Base Sakaiminato, Tottori
FAC 5115 Nyutabaru Air Base (JASDF) Shintomi, Miyazaki
FAC 5117 Sakibe Rifle Range (JMSDF) Training Sasebo, Nagasaki
FAC 5120 Hijudai-Jumonjibaru Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Yufu, Oita
Beppu, Oita
FAC 5121 Tsuiki Air Base (JASDF) Air Base Chikujo, Fukuoka
FAC 5122 Omura Air Base (JMSDF) Recreation Omura, Nagasaki
FAC 5123 Oyanohara-Kirishima Maneuver Area (JGSDF) Training Yamato, Kumamoto
Ebino, Miyazaki
FAC 5124 Camp Kita Kumamoto (JGSDF) Kumamoto, Kumamoto
FAC 5125 Camp Kengun (JGSDF)
FAC 6181 Ukibaru Jima Training Area Uruma, Okinawa

On Okinawa, U.S. military installations occupy about 10.4% of the total land usage. Approximately 74.7% of all the U.S. military facilities in Japan are located on the island of Okinawa.[citation needed]

List of former facilities

[edit]

The United States has returned some facilities to Japanese control. Some are used as military bases of the JSDF; others have become civilian airports or government offices; many are factories, office buildings or residential developments in the private sector. Due to the Special Actions Committee on Okinawa, more land on Okinawa is in the process of being returned. These areas include Camp Kuwae (also known as Camp Lester), MCAS Futenma, areas within Camp Zukeran (also known as Camp Foster) located about 9,900 acres (40 km2) of the Northern Training Area, Aha Training Area, Gimbaru Training Area (also known as Camp Gonsalves), a small portion of the Makiminato Service Area (also known as Camp Kinser), and Naha Port.[citation needed]

Army:

Navy:

Air Force:

Marines:

See also

[edit]

Notes and references

[edit]
  1. ^ "About USFJ". USFJ. Retrieved 29 May 2021. Originally established at Fuchu Air Station on July 1, 1957, USFJ, with its U.S. Army, U.S Marine Corps, U.S Navy, and U.S Air Force elements, consists of approximately 54,000 military personnel, 45,000 dependents, 8,000 DoD civilian and contractor employees, and 25,000 Japanese workers. U.S. forces are stationed in Japan pursuant to the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security of 1960.
  2. ^ Nicastro, Luke and Tilghman, Andrew. "U.S. Overseas Basing: Background and Issues for Congress". Congressional Research Service, July 10, 2024, pp. 8-9, 32.
  3. ^ Lopez, C. Todd (28 July 2024). "U.S. Intends to Reconstitute U.S. Forces Japan as Joint Forces Headquarters". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ^ 疑惑が晴れるのはいつか, Okinawa Times, 16 May 1999
  5. ^ 思いやり予算８億円減で日米合意、光熱水料を３年間で, Yomiuri Shinbun, 12 December 2007
  6. ^ PRESS RELEASE U.S. and Japan Sign Alliance Support Agreement Archived 27 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The embassy of the United States in Japan
  7. ^ Ito, Masami (22 January 2011). "Host-nation deal inked, not 'sympathy budget'". The Japan Times.
  8. ^ Zeynalov, Mahir (25 December 2017). "Defending Allies: Here is how much US Gains from Policing World". The Globe Post. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  9. ^ Tritten, Travis J., "Evacuation from Japan a vacation? Not so much", Stars and Stripes, 31 May 2011.
  10. ^ a b Kovach, Bob; J. Carter, Chelsea (27 April 2012). "U.S.-Japan deal withdraws 9,000 Marines from Okinawa". CNN. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  11. ^ a b "US agrees to Okinawa troop redeployment". Al Jazeera. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  12. ^ Shanker, Thom (26 April 2012). "U.S. Agrees to Reduce Size of Force on Okinawa". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  13. ^ a b c Greg Jaffe and Emily Heil (27 April 2012). "U.S. comes to agreement with Japan to move 9,000 Marines off Okinawa". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Okinawa deal between US and Japan to move marines". BBC. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  15. ^ "U.S., Japan unveil revised plan for Okinawa". The Asahi Shimbun. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  16. ^ Quintana, Miguel (28 April 2012). "Japan Welcomes US Base Agreement". Voice of America. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  17. ^ Kaur, Anumita (8 February 2021). "DOD spent $365M for Guam military buildup last fiscal year". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  18. ^ Sevastopulo, Demetri; Inagaki, Kana (24 March 2024). "US and Japan plan biggest upgrade to security pact in over 60 years". The Financial Times.
  19. ^ House, The White (10 April 2024). "United States-Japan Joint Leaders' Statement". The White House. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  20. ^ "US Forces Japan to be upgraded to warfighting command". Defense One. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "50 Years After US Occupation, Okinawa Continues to Resist Military Bases". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Okinawa's vocal anti-US military base movement". www.lowyinstitute.org. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  23. ^ Williams, Brad (2013). "The YIMBY Phenomenon in Henoko, Okinawa". Asian Survey. 53 (5): 958–978. doi:10.1525/as.2013.53.5.958. ISSN 0004-4687.
  24. ^ Yoshida, Reiji, "Basics of the U.S. military presence", Japan Times, 25 March 2008, p. 3.
  25. ^ http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/chijiko/kichitai/documents/petition20031116.pdf Archived 4 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Okinawa Prefectural Government
  26. ^ "Okinawa accuses U.S. military of distorting figure on U.S. bases：The Asahi Shimbun". www.asahi.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016.
  27. ^ a b Chanlett-Avery, Emma (2012). The U.S. military presence in Okinawa and the Futenma base controversy. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. OCLC 807200430.
  28. ^ Crissey, Etsuko Takushi (30 June 2017), "The US Military in Okinawa", Okinawa's GI Brides, University of Hawai'i Press, doi:10.21313/hawaii/9780824856489.003.0002, ISBN 9780824856489, retrieved 1 August 2022
  29. ^ "Former Defense Minister Kyuma doubts need for Henoko base due to military technological advancements".
  30. ^ "Purpose and Duties". Labor Management Organization. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  31. ^ "New Okinawa minister says Japan-U.S. SOFA should be 're-examined' after Osprey crash". The Japan Times Online. 9 August 2017. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  32. ^ "毎日世論調査：辺野古移設に反対８４％ 沖縄県民対象". Mainichi Shimbun. 11 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012 – via Megalodon (website).
  33. ^ 基地騒音の問題 Archived 4 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Yamato City
  34. ^ 横田基地における騒音防止対策の徹底について（要請） Archived 24 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
  35. ^ 嘉手納町の概要 Archived 30 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Kadena Town
  36. ^ Isabel Reynolds; Takashi Hirokawa (17 November 2014). "Opponent of U.S. Base Wins Okinawa Vote in Setback for Abe". Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Protest held at sea in Okinawa against land reclamation work for U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma base". japantimes.co.jp. 25 June 2018.
  38. ^ "Okinawa protesters mourn governor, oppose US base relocation - Pacific - Stripes". Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  39. ^ a b c KRISTOF, NICHOLAS (27 October 1995). "Fearing G.I. Occupiers, Japan Urged Women Into Brothels". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  40. ^ Hearst, David (7 March 2011). "Second battle of Okinawa looms as China's naval ambition grows". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  41. ^ http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Documents/Ethos.pdf Archived 23 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Ethos Data
  42. ^ http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Documents/Sofa.pdf Archived 23 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, SOFA Agreement
  43. ^ "在日米軍・沖縄駐留米軍の犯罪率を考える - 駄犬日誌". D.hatena.ne.jp. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  44. ^ "U.S. civilian arrested in fresh Okinawa DUI case; man injured". The Japan Times. 26 June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016.
  45. ^ Krauss, Jake Adelstein (9 June 2016). "The Suitcase Murder Tearing the U.S. And Japan Apart". The Daily Beast.
  46. ^ Lah, Kyung (10 February 2008). "U.S. Marine accused of raping teen in Okinawa". CNN.
  47. ^ "Japanese protest against US base". Al Jazeera. 23 March 2008.
  48. ^ "Curfew for US troops in Okinawa". BBC. 20 February 2008.
  49. ^ Spak, Kevin (16 May 2008). "Okinawa Marine Gets 4 Years for Teen Sex Abuse". Newser.
  50. ^ U.S. imposes curfew on Okinawa forces, The Japan Times, 21 February 2008
  51. ^ http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/hit-and-run-charge-added-for-us-soldier-indicted-in-okinawa [dead link‍]
  52. ^ David Allen. "U.S. soldier sentenced to Japanese jail for hit-and-run on Okinawa - News". Stripes. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  53. ^ "U.S. Navy sailors convicted in Okinawa rape". USA Today. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  54. ^ a b Tabuchi, Hiroko (13 May 2013). "Women Forced Into WWII Brothels Served Necessary Role, Osaka Mayor Says". New York Times. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  55. ^ Ben Westcott, Japanese woman's murder provokes protests against U.S. bases in Okinawa, CNN (20 June 2016).
  56. ^ Jonathan Soble, At Okinawa Protest, Thousands Call for Removal of U.S. Bases, New York Times (19 June 2016).
  57. ^ Joshua Berlinger and Chie Kobayashi (20 November 2017). "US Marine arrested following fatal Okinawa truck crash". CNN.
  58. ^ David McNeill (15 March 2009). "Justice for Some. Crime, Victims and the US-Japan SOFA". Japan Focus.
  59. ^ "U.S. forces in Japan, including criminals, are privileged under Article 17 of SOFA". Japan Press Weekly. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  60. ^ 英語学習サイト. "| 社説 | 英語のニュース | The Japan Times ST オンライン ― 英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズの英語学習サイト". st.japantimes.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  61. ^ "US Osprey military aircraft begin Okinawa base move". BBC News. 1 October 2012.
  62. ^ "Okinawa residents protest transfer of six Ospreys to base | the Japan Times Online". Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  63. ^ "Osprey - The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  64. ^ Morris-Suzuki, Tessa (2000). "Under the umbrella: co-existence with the military is not so peaceful for the people and the environment of Okinawa, Japan". New Internationalist (325): 34–35.
  65. ^ Nishiyama, Hidefumi (5 May 2022). "Base borders: Militarisation and (post-)colonial bordering in Okinawa". Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space. 40 (8): 1627–1642. doi:10.1177/23996544221097232. ISSN 2399-6544. S2CID 248590255.
  66. ^ Nishiyama, Hidefumi (15 March 2022). "Base Built in the Middle of 'Rice Fields': A Politics of Ignorance in Okinawa". Geopolitics. 27 (2): 546–565. doi:10.1080/14650045.2020.1801646. ISSN 1465-0045. S2CID 225285553.
  67. ^ Matsumura, Wendy (2020). "Postwar Reconfigurations of the US Empire and Global Military Occupation: Struggles against Enclosure in Okinawa". Journal of Historical Sociology. 33 (1): 149–163. doi:10.1111/johs.12261. ISSN 0952-1909. S2CID 213256366.
  68. ^ a b c d e Tanji, Miyume (2008). "U.S. COURT RULES IN THE "OKINAWA DUGONG" CASE: Implications for U.S. Military Bases Overseas". Critical Asian Studies. 40 (3): 475–487. doi:10.1080/14672710802274094. ISSN 1467-2715. S2CID 142554393.
  69. ^ a b Taylor, Jonathan (2007). "Environment and Security Conflicts: The U.S. Military in Okinawa". The Geographical Bulletin (48): 3–13.
  70. ^ "US Military Bases Are Poisoning Okinawa". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  71. ^ "Cancer inducing toxins found in water sources near US bases in Japan: study". Mainichi Daily News. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  72. ^ "U.S. Military Accountability for PFAS Contamination on Bases in Okinawa". www.americanbar.org. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  73. ^ "'Alarming' Levels of 'Forever Chemicals' Found in Water Near US Bases in Okinawa". Common Dreams. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  74. ^ a b c d John Mitchell (18 August 2022). "450,000 Okinawans' drinking water contaminated by Kadena Air Base training site, new evidence suggests". Okinawa Times. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022.
  75. ^ a b c d e A Soldier in Kyushu Archived 14 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, By Capt. William B. Koons, 1 October 1947
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Armed Forces in Japan.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Forces_Japan&oldid=1257170794"