The U.S. military's plan to move its aerial tanker training to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kanoya base in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, is a sensitive issue for some residents because the city is where many kamikaze pilots took their final flights during World War II.
Kanoya was a naval city before the war and even now white MSDF uniforms are a common sidewalk sight.
The MSDF has been participating in local events to improve relations with the community and even Mayor Sakae Yamashita, who opposes the U.S. move because he feels it will lead to expanded American use of the base in the future, said, "We want to continue to have good relations with the base."