Tag - us-bases

 
 

US BASES

The Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo in September 2019. An inspection of the base by Japanese government officials on Friday came amid public pressure to investigate suspected links between the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam by the U.S. base and contamination of soil and groundwater in western Tokyo.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Dec 20, 2024
Japanese officials inspect Yokota Air Base over PFAS concerns
The inspection follows a reported leak in August of water containing "forever chemicals" outside the U.S. base in western Tokyo.
Businessman George Glass has been selected by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to be the next ambassador to Japan.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 17, 2024
Trump picks businessman George Glass as Japan ambassador
Glass, who served as ambassador to Portugal during Trump's first administration, is known as one of the biggest fundraisers for his reelection bid.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (left) meets with Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office on Sunday.
JAPAN
Dec 16, 2024
Okinawa governor seeks timetable for transfer of U.S. marines
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki on Sunday called on the government to provide a concrete timetable for the transfer of U.S. Marines in Okinawa to Guam, following the recent start of the relocation.
The U.S. Air Force's CV-22 Osprey displayed during Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on May 18
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2024
U.S. and Japanese Ospreys grounded this month after precautionary landing
While the details about the precautionary landing are not known, the incident has raised concerns over the vulnerability in Osprey components.
U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, in 2021
JAPAN
Dec 14, 2024
U.S. Marines begin to relocate from Okinawa to Guam
The movement of troops comes 19 years after an initial agreement for the relocation by the governments of Japan and the U.S.
The Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture. Brennon Washington was stationed at the base when he abducted a minor on Dec. 24, 2023.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 13, 2024
U.S. serviceman sentenced over sexual assault of underage girl in Okinawa
Brennon Washington persuaded the girl to get into his car under the pretense of cooking and watching a movie together at his home. Once there, he assaulted her.
An SM-3 interceptor is launched by the Aegis Guam System during a test at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 12, 2024
Can a U.S. missile defense system shield Guam from Chinese threat?
Building the island's missile defenses as envisioned will cost about $10 billion over the next decade.
The plaintiff-side lawyers hold up papers displaying the judgment details in the lawsuit against the Atsugi Air Base, in Yokohama on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 21, 2024
Japanese court rejects injunction against flights at Atsugi Air Base
The lawsuit focused on changes in levels of base-related noise since U.S. carrier-based aircraft were relocated to the Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Air Self-Defense Force F-35A fighter jets at the U.S. military's Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture. The deployment of the U.S. military's cutting-edge F-35A stealth fighters at the base will start in the spring of 2026.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2024
F-35A deployment at Misawa base to start in spring 2026
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend about $10 billion to upgrade its fighter jets deployed in Japan over several years.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks during a news conference at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2024
Japan defense chief says no decision yet on relocating U.S. military's command
A U.S. newspaper reported that U.S. Forces Japan is considering moving its command from its Yokota base in Tokyo's western suburbs to central Tokyo.
Operators respond to telephone directory inquiries from Tokyo at a call center in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, in October 1997.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Nov 11, 2024
As NTT ends its Dial 104 service, Okinawa's call centers look elsewhere
Naha and Nago were home to Japan's biggest call center operations, receiving around 125,000 calls a day at their peak in 1999.
In a group interview at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Thursday, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya declined to make predictions about the Liberal Democratic Party’s approach to any revisions to the Status of Forces Agreement, but said he believes “some wisdom will probably come about” from planned talks within the party.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 4, 2024
Top diplomat says Foreign Ministry will ‘quietly examine’ revising SOFA pact
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya says finding a "mutually acceptable" solution to issues in the pact governing the U.S. military presence in Japan is key.
Tennessee National Guard soldiers offload from a C-17 aircraft at Grayling Army Airfield in Grayling, Michigan, in August 2022. Camp Grayling, which is within 160 kilometers (100 miles) of where China-linked electric vehicle battery maker Gotion plans to build a facility, will be added to an existing list where nearby property transactions may be reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
WORLD
Nov 2, 2024
U.S. expands oversight on property deals near military sites
The move comes at a time of heightened concern over China-related land purchases.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba would face a number of obstacles to updating the Status of Forces Agreement — something that hasn’t occurred since its promulgation in 1960.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Oct 16, 2024
Ishiba's goal of revising U.S. troops pact likely long-term project
The prime minister's push to change the Status of Forces Agreement governing the U.S. military presence in Japan is unlikely to happen any time soon.
A U.S. military helicopter made an emergency landing on a beach in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Thursday.
JAPAN
Oct 10, 2024
U.S. helicopter makes emergency landing on Chigasaki beach
Around noon, a report was received through the fire department that a U.S. helicopter made a “precautionary landing” on a beach in the city.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, the new commander of U.S. forces stationed in Japan, speaks at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 9, 2024
New chief of U.S. forces in Japan vows to strengthen alliance
Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost takes charge of reorganizing the U.S. Forces Japan headquarters into a joint force headquarters to tighten the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Raymonde Desiree, a member of the Chagossian community living in Crawley, south of London.
WORLD / Society
Oct 5, 2024
Chagos diaspora angry at lack of input on islands' fate
Britain will transfer sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and many Chagossians are angry that they were not given a say in the islands' fate.
Atsushi Sakima (center) celebrates his victory in the Ginowan mayoral election with his supporters in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 9, 2024
Ruling camp-backed candidate wins Ginowan mayoral election
Atsushi Sakima, a former Ginowan mayor, defeated Isao Tobaru, a former member of the Ginowan assembly, and corporate representative Takashi Higa.
Gabon President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema waves as he arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Sep. 1.
WORLD
Sep 7, 2024
U.S. pitches deal to thwart Chinese military base in Africa
The U.S. is assembling an economic and security assistance package for Gabon in a bid to prevent China from establishing a military footprint there.
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki speaks during a news conference in the prefectural government office in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 6, 2024
Okinawa governor condemns alleged sexual assault by U.S. Marine
The governor said that the prefecture will lodge a protest with the Japanese and U.S. governments over the case.

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Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
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