United States Forces Japan
在日米軍
USFJ insignia
Active1 July 1957 — present
(66 years, 6 months)
Country United States
TypeSubordinate unified combatant command
Size50,000 (approx.)
Part of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
HeadquartersYokota Air Base, Fussa, Tokyo
Websitewww.usfj.mil
Commanders
Commander Lt Gen Ricky N. Rupp, USAF[1]
Deputy Commander BGen James B. Wellons, USMC
Senior Enlisted Leader CMSgt Wendell J. Snider, 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.[2] 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.

U.S. Forces Japan plans, directs, and supervises the execution of missions and responsibilities assigned by the Indo-Pacific Command; they establish and implement policies to accomplish the mission of the United States Armed Forces in Japan and are responsible for developing plans for the defense of the country. USFJ supports the Security Treaty and administers the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan. They are responsible for coordinating various matters of interest with the service commanders in Japan. These include matters affecting U.S.-Japan relationships among and between the United States Department of Defense (DOD); DOD agencies and the U.S. Ambassador to Japan; and DOD agencies and the Government of Japan.

Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to provide Japan – in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces – with maritime defense, ballistic missile defense, domestic air control, communications security, and disaster response.

History

Soldiers at Camp Kinser
United States forces helped Japanese in 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.[3]

As of 2013, there are approximately 50,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, along with approximately 40,000 dependents of military personnel and another 5,500 American civilians employed there by the United States Department of Defense. The United States Seventh Fleet is based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The III Marine Expeditionary Force is based on Okinawa. 130 U.S. Air Force fighters are stationed at Misawa Air Base and Kadena Air Base.[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. 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]

United States presence debate

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.[18][19][20] Okinawa makes up only 0.6% of the nation's land area;[4] yet, approximately 62% of United States bases in Japan (exclusive use only) are on Okinawa.[21][22] 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.[18][19][23][24]

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[25]

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.[26]

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.[27]

Surveys among Japanese

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.[28]

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.[29][30][31] The 2014 poll by Ryūkyū Shimpō found that 80% of surveyed Okinawans want the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma moved out of the prefecture.[32] On 25 June 2018, Okinawan residents protested against the construction of a new airfield. The activists, armed with 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.[33]

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.[34]

Crime

At the beginning of the occupation of Japan in 1945, many U.S. soldiers participated in the Special Comfort Facility Association.[35] The Japanese government organised the enslavement of 55,000 women to work providing sexual services to U.S. military personnel before the surrender.[35] On discovery of the program, the association was closed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.[35]

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.[36] Yet, per Marine Corps Installations Pacific data, U.S. service members are convicted of far fewer crimes than local Okinawans.[37] 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.[38] 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.[39]

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.[40] "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.[41]

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.[42] This triggered waves of protest against American military presence on Okinawa and led to tight restrictions on off-base activities.[43][44] 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.[45]

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.[46] 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,[47] and he was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail.[48]

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.[49]

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.[50] 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.[50]

In June 2016, after a civilian worker at the base was charged with murdering a Japanese woman, thousands of people protested on Okinawa.[51] Organizers estimated turnout at 65,000 people, which was the largest anti-base protests on Okinawa since 1995.[52] In November 2017, an intoxicated U.S. service member was arrested following a vehicle crash on Okinawa that killed the other driver.[53]

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.[54][55]

U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in 2016

Osprey deployment

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.[56] 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".[57] Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also stated that the Japanese government was convinced of the MV-22's safety.[58] Various incidents involving V-22 Ospreys have occurred on Okinawa.[59] 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

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.[60] 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".[61][62][63] 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.[64][65]

Okinawa dugong lawsuit

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.[66] A critically endangered species, dugong were traditionally fished and hunted throughout Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands.[66] 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.[67] 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.[66]

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

Concerns over water contamination have also exasperated 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

List of current facilities

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 InstallationPrimary Purpose
(Actual)
Location
Air ForceFAC 1054Camp Chitose
(Chitose III, Chitose Administration Annex)
CommunicationsChitose, Hokkaido
FAC 2001Misawa Air BaseAir BaseMisawa, Aomori
FAC 3013Yokota Air BaseFussa, Tokyo
FAC 3016Fuchu Communications StationCommunicationsFuchu, Tokyo
FAC 3019Tama Service Annex
(Tama Hills Recreation Center)
RecreationInagi, Tokyo
FAC 3048Camp Asaka
(South Camp Drake AFN Transmitter Site)
Barracks
(Broadcasting)
Wako, Saitama
FAC 3049Tokorozawa Communications Station
(Tokorozawa Transmitter Site)
CommunicationsTokorozawa, Saitama
FAC 3056Owada Communication SiteNiiza, Saitama
FAC 3162Yugi Communication SiteHachioji, Tokyo
FAC 4100Sofu Communication SiteIwakuni, Yamaguchi
FAC 5001Itazuke Auxiliary AirfieldAir Cargo TerminalHakata-ku, Fukuoka
FAC 5073Sefurisan Liaison Annex
(Seburiyama Communications Station)
CommunicationsKanzaki, Saga
FAC 5091Tsushima Communication SiteTsushima, Nagasaki
FAC 6004Okuma Rest CenterRecreationKunigami, Okinawa
FAC 6006Yaedake Communication SiteCommunicationsMotobu, Okinawa
FAC 6022Kadena Ammunition Storage AreaStorageOnna, Okinawa
FAC 6037Kadena Air BaseAir BaseKadena, Okinawa
FAC 6077Tori Shima RangeTrainingKumejima, Okinawa
FAC 6078Idesuna Jima RangeTonaki, Okinawa
FAC 6080Kume Jima RangeKumejima, Okinawa
ArmyFAC 2070Shariki Communication SiteCommunicationsTsugaru, Aomori
FAC 3004Akasaka Press Center
(Hardy Barracks)
OfficeMinato, Tokyo
FAC 3067Yokohama North DockPort FacilityYokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3079Camp ZamaOfficeZama, Kanagawa
FAC 3084Sagami General DepotLogisticsSagamihara, Kanagawa
FAC 3102Sagamihara Housing AreaHousing
Kyogamisaki Communication SiteCommunicationsKyōtango, Kyoto
FAC 4078Akizuki Ammunition DepotStorageEtajima, Hiroshima
FAC 4083Kawakami Ammunition DepotHigashihiroshima, Hiroshima
FAC 4084Hiro Ammunition DepotKure, Hiroshima
FAC 4152Kure Pier No.6Port Facility
FAC 4611Haigamine Communication SiteCommunications
FAC 6007Gesaji Communication SiteHigashi, Okinawa
FAC 6036Torii Communications Station
(Torii Station)
Yomitan, Okinawa
FAC 6064Naha PortPort FacilityNaha, Okinawa
FAC 6076Army POL DepotsStorageUruma, Okinawa
NavyFAC 2006Hachinohe POL DepotHachinohe, Aomori
FAC 2012Misawa ATG Range
(R130, Draughon Range)
TrainingMisawa, Aomori
FAC 3033Kisarazu Auxiliary Landing FieldAir FacilityKisarazu, Chiba
FAC 3066Negishi Dependent Housing Area
(Naval Housing Annex Negishi)
HousingYokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3083Naval Air Facility AtsugiAir FacilityAyase, Kanagawa
FAC 3087Ikego Housing Area and Navy AnnexHousingZushi, Kanagawa
FAC 3090Azuma Storage AreaStorageYokosuka, Kanagawa
FAC 3096Kamiseya Communications Station - returned to Japanese Gov 2015
(Naval Support Facility Kamiseya - returned to Japanese Gov 2015)
Communications
(Housing)
Yokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3097Fukaya Communication Site
(Naval Transmitter Station Totsuka)
Communications
FAC 3099United States Fleet Activities YokosukaPort FacilityYokosuka, Kanagawa
FAC 3117Urago Ammunition DepotStorage
FAC 3144Tsurumi POL DepotYokohama, Kanagawa
FAC 3181Iwo Jima Communication SiteCommunications
(Training)
Ogasawara, Tokyo
FAC 3185New Sanno U.S. Forces CenterRecreationMinato, Tokyo
FAC 5029United States Fleet Activities SaseboPort FacilitySasebo, Nagasaki
FAC 5030Sasebo Dry Dock Area
FAC 5032Akasaki POL DepotStorage
FAC 5033Sasebo Ammunition Supply Point
FAC 5036Iorizaki POL Depot
FAC 5039Yokose POL DepotSaikai, Nagasaki
FAC 5050Harioshima Ammunition Storage AreaSasebo, Nagasaki
FAC 5086Tategami Basin Port AreaPort Facility
FAC 5118Sakibe Navy AnnexHangar
FAC 5119Hario Dependent Housing Area
(Hario Family Housing Area)
Housing
FAC 6028Tengan PierPort FacilityUruma, Okinawa
FAC 6032Camp ShieldsBarracksOkinawa, Okinawa
FAC 6046Awase Communications StationCommunications
FAC 6048White Beach AreaPort FacilityUruma, Okinawa
FAC 6084Kobi Sho RangeTrainingIshigaki, Okinawa
FAC 6085Sekibi Sho Range
FAC 6088Oki Daito Jima RangeKitadaito, Okinawa
Marine
Corps
FAC 3127Camp FujiBarracksGotenba, Shizuoka
FAC 3154Numazu Training AreaTrainingNumazu, Shizuoka
FAC 4092Marine Corps Air Station IwakuniAir StationIwakuni, Yamaguchi
FAC 6001Northern Training Area
(Incl. Camp Gonsalves)
TrainingKunigami, Okinawa
FAC 6005Ie Jima Auxiliary AirfieldIe, Okinawa
FAC 6009Camp SchwabNago, Okinawa
FAC 6010Henoko Ordnance Ammunition DepotStorage
FAC 6011Camp HansenTrainingKin, Okinawa
FAC 6019Kin Red Beach Training Area
FAC 6020Kin Blue Beach Training Area
FAC 6029Camp CourtneyBarracksUruma, Okinawa
FAC 6031Camp McTureous
FAC 6043Camp Kuwae (Camp Lester)Medical FacilityChatan, Okinawa
FAC 6044Camp Zukeran (Camp Foster)Barracks
FAC 6051Marine Corps Air Station FutenmaAir StationGinowan, Okinawa
FAC 6056Makiminato Service Area (Camp Kinser)LogisticsUrasoe, Okinawa
FAC 6082Tsuken Jima Training AreaTrainingUruma, Okinawa

Joint Use Facilities and Areas

Temporary use facilities and areas are as follows:

USFJ Facilities
Admin Code
Name of InstallationPrimary
Purpose
Location
FAC 1066Camp Higashi Chitose (JGSDF)TrainingChitose, Hokkaido
FAC 1067Hokkaido Chitose Maneuver Area (JGSDF)
FAC 1068Chitose Air Base (JASDF)Air Base
FAC 1069Betsukai Yausubetsu Large Maneuver Area (JGSDF)TrainingBetsukai, Hokkaido
FAC 1070Camp Kushiro (JGSDF)BarracksKushiro, Hokkaido
FAC 1071Camp Shikaoi (JGSDF)TrainingShikaoi, Hokkaido
FAC 1072Kamifurano Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Kamifurano, Hokkaido
FAC 1073Camp Sapporo (JGSDF)Sapporo, Hokkaido
FAC 1074Shikaoi Shikaribetsu Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Shikaoi, Hokkaido
FAC 1075Camp Obihiro (JGSDF)Obihiro, Hokkaido
FAC 1076Asahikawa Chikabumidai Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Asahikawa, Hokkaido
FAC 1077Camp Okadama (JGSDF)RecreationSapporo, Hokkaido
FAC 1078Nayoro Maneuver Area (JGSDF)TrainingNayoro, Hokkaido
FAC 1079Takikawa Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Takikawa, Hokkaido
FAC 1080Bihoro Training Area (JGSDF)Bihoro, Hokkaido
FAC 1081Kutchan Takamine Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Kutchan, Hokkaido
FAC 1082Engaru Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Engaru, Hokkaido
FAC 2062Camp Sendai (JGSDF)Sendai, Miyagi
FAC 2063Camp Hachinohe (JGSDF)BarracksHachinohe, Aomori
FAC 2064Iwate Iwatesan Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF)TrainingTakizawa, Iwate
FAC 2065Taiwa Ojojihara Large Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Taiwa, Miyagi
FAC 2066Kasuminome Airfield (JGSDF)AirfieldSendai, Miyagi
FAC 2067Aomori Kotani Maneuver Area (JGSDF)TrainingAomori, Aomori
FAC 2068Hirosaki Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Hirosaki, Aomori
FAC 2069Jinmachi Otakane Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Murayama, Yamagata
FAC 3104Nagasaka Rifle Range (JGSDF)Yokosuka, Kanagawa
FAC 3183Fuji Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi
Gotenba, Shizuoka
FAC 3184Camp Takigahara (JGSDF)Gotenba, Shizuoka
FAC 3186Takada Sekiyama Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Joetsu, Niigata
FAC 3187Hyakuri Air Base (JASDF)Air BaseOmitama, Ibaraki
FAC 3188Soumagahara Maneuver Area (JGSDF)TrainingShinto, Gunma
FAC 3189Camp Asaka (JGSDF)TrainingAsaka, Saitama
FAC 4161Komatsu Air Base (JASDF)Air BaseKomatsu, Ishikawa
FAC 41621st Service School (JMSDF)TrainingEtajima, Hiroshima
FAC 4163Haramura Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
FAC 4164Imazu Aibano Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Takashima, Shiga
FAC 4165Gifu Air Base (JASDF)RecreationKakamigahara, Gifu
FAC 4166Camp Itami (JGSDF)TrainingItami, Hyogo
FAC 4167Nihonbara Medium Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Nagi, Okayama
FAC 4168Miho Air Base (JASDF)Air BaseSakaiminato, Tottori
FAC 5115Nyutabaru Air Base (JASDF)Shintomi, Miyazaki
FAC 5117Sakibe Rifle Range (JMSDF)TrainingSasebo, Nagasaki
FAC 5120Hijudai-Jumonjibaru Maneuver Area (JGSDF)Yufu, Oita
Beppu, Oita
FAC 5121Tsuiki Air Base (JASDF)Air BaseChikujo, Fukuoka
FAC 5122Omura Air Base (JMSDF)RecreationOmura, Nagasaki
FAC 5123Oyanohara-Kirishima Maneuver Area (JGSDF)TrainingYamato, Kumamoto
Ebino, Miyazaki
FAC 5124Camp Kita Kumamoto (JGSDF)Kumamoto, Kumamoto
FAC 5125Camp Kengun (JGSDF)
FAC 6181Ukibaru Jima Training AreaUruma, 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.

List of former facilities

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.

Army:

Navy:

Air Force:

Marines:

See also

Notes and references

  1. "U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force Change of Command". Facebook. 26 August 2021.
  2. "About USFJ". www.usfj.mil. 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.
  3. 疑惑が晴れるのはいつか, Okinawa Times, 16 May 1999
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