United States Forces Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States Forces Japan (USFJ, Japanese: 在日米軍 Zainichi Beigun) refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
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[edit] History
After the Japanese surrender in World War II, the United States Armed Forces acquired the overall administrative authority in Japan. All of the Japanese Imperial Army and Navy were decommissioned and all of their military bases were taken over by the USAF. The allied countries planned to demilitarize Japan, and the U.S. imposed the Constitution of Japan with a no-armed-force clause in 1947.
After the Korean War began in 1950, Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan, ordered the Japanese government to establish the paramilitary "Reserved Police", which was later developed into the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
In 1951, the Treaty of San Francisco was signed by the allied countries and Japan, which restored its formal sovereignty. At the same time, the US and Japan signed the Japan-America Security Alliance. By this treaty, the USAF are legally responsible for the defense of Japan and in return for this, the Japanese government has offered military bases, funds and various interests as defined by the Status of Forces Agreement.
In 1960 at the expiration of the treaty, the new Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan was signed 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. The treaty is still in effect and the Japanese foreign policy is based on these reciprocal obligations.
In the Vietnam War, the USFJ military bases in Japan, especially those in Okinawa, were used as important strategic and logistic bases. The USAF strategic bombers were deployed in the bases in Okinawa, which was still administered by the US government. In the 1960s, 1,200 nuclear weapons were stored in the Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.[1] All the missiles left Okinawa after the reversion to Japanese administration in 1972.
As of 2007 there are 33,453 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, and another 5,500 American civilians employed there by the United States Department of Defense. The United States Seventh Fleet is based in Yokosuka. 130 USAF fighters are stationed in the Misawa Air Base and Kadena Air Base.
The Japanese government paid 217 billion Yen (US$ 2.0 billion) in 2007[3] as annual host-nation support called Omoiyari Yosan (思いやり予算? sympathy budget or compassion budget).[4]
[edit] Controversy
Many Japanese citizens appreciate the mutual security treaty with the U.S. and the presence of the USFJ,[5] but at the same time, a large portion of the population demand a reduction in the amount of U.S. military bases in the region.[6] 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 the local citizens suffer from the aircraft noise.[7][8][9]
From 1952 to 2004 there have been 200,000 accidents and crimes committed by the U.S. soldiers, which killed 1,076 Japanese civilians. Over 90% of the incidents were vehicle or traffic related. [10] According to the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement U.S. personnel have partial extraterritorial right, so in most cases suspects were not arrested.[10] In 1995 the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan schoolgirl by three U.S. marines led to demands for the removal of all U.S. military bases in Japan. Other controversial incidents include helicopter crashes, the Girard Incident and the Michael Brown Okinawa assault incident. 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 Japanese girl.[11] This triggered waves of protest against American military presence in Okinawa and led to tight restrictions on off-base activities.[12][13] U.S. Forces Japan designated February 22 as a Day of Reflection for all U.S. military facilities in Japan, setting up a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Task Force in an effort to prevent similar incidents.[14]
[edit] Facilities
[edit] List of current facilities
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:
- Camp Chitose, Chitose, Hokkaido
- Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Prefecture
- Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, Okinawa Prefecture
- Misawa Air Base, Aomori Prefecture
- Yokota Air Base, Fussa, Tokyo
- Fuchu Communications Station, Fuchu, Tokyo
- Tama Service Annex, Inagi, Tokyo
- Yugi Communication Site, Hachioji, Tokyo
- Camp Asaka AFN Transmitter Site, Saitama Prefecture
- Tokorozawa Transmitter Site, Saitama Prefecture
- Owada Communication Site, Saitama Prefecture
- Okuma Rest Center, Okinawa Prefecture
- Yaedake Communication Site, Okinawa Prefecture
- Senaha Communication Station, Okinawa Prefecture
Army:
- Fort Buckner, Okinawa Prefecture
- Camp Zama, Zama, Kanagawa
- Yokohama North Dock, Yokohama, Kanagawa
- Sagami General Depot, Sagamihara, Kanagawa
- Sagamihara Housing Area, Sagamihara, Kanagawa
- Akizuki Ammunition Depot, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Hiro Ammunition Depot, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Kawakami Ammunition Depot, Hiroshima Prefecture
- Gesaji Communication Site, Okinawa Prefecture
- Army POL Depots, Okinawa Prefecture
- White Beach Area, Okinawa Prefecture
- Naha Port, Okinawa Prefecture
- Hardy Barracks, Roppongi, Tokyo
- Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Although these camps are dispersed throughout Okinawa and Japan they are all under the heading of Camp Smedley D. Butler):
- Camp Courtney
- Camp Kinser
- Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
- Camp Hansen
- Camp Schwab
- Camp Shields
- Jungle Warfare Training Center
- Camp Gonsalves
- Kin Blue Beach Training Area
- Kin Red Beach Training Area
- NSGA Hanza
- Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
- Camp Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Numazu Training Area, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Camp McTureous
- Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield
- Higashionna Ammunition Storage Point II
- Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot
- Tengan Pier
- Ie Jima Auxiliary Air Field, Okinawa Prefecture
- Tsuken Jima Training Area
- Kadena Ammunition Storage Area
- Camp Foster, Okinawa Prefecture
- Camp Lester, Okinawa Prefecture
Navy:
- Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Ayase, Kanagawa
- United States Fleet Activities Sasebo, Sasebo, Nagasaki
- United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Yokosuka, Kanagawa
- Urago Ammunition Depot, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Tsurumi POL Depot, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Naval Housing Annex Negishi, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Naval Transmitter Station Totsuka, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Naval Support Facility Kamiseya, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Tomioka Storage Area, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Naval Housing Annex Ikego, Zushi, Kanagawa
- White Beach Area, Okinawa Prefecture
- Awase Communication Station, Okinawa Prefecture
- Sobe Communication Site, Okinawa Prefecture
- New Sanno Hotel, Tokyo
Japan–U.S. Status of Forces Agreement Areas:
- Kisarazu Auxiliary Landing Field—Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture
- Camp Hansen (small portion in central area of Camp Hansen)—Okinawa Prefecture
- Ukibaru Jima—Okinawa Prefecture
- Kadena Air Base (small areas outside of the base that are supported by Kadena—these areas are located on the southern portion of Okinawa)—Okinawa Prefecture
- Jungle Warfare Training Center (formerly known as Northern Training Area—four thin elongated areas embedded and distributed evenly within JWTC)—Okinawa Prefecture
In Okinawa, U.S. military installations occupy about 10.4 percent of the total land usage. Approximately 74.7 percent of all the U.S. military facilities in Japan are located on the island of Okinawa.
[edit] 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 resential developments in the private sector Due to the Special Actions Committee on Okinawa, more land in 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], about 9,900 acres (40 km²) of the Northern Training Area, Aha Training Area, Gimbaru Training Area (also known as Camp Gonsalves), Sobe Communications Site, Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield, Senaha Communications Station, small portion of the Makiminato Service Area (also known as Camp Kinser), and Naha Port.
Army:
- RYCOM
- Camp Chickamunga, 19th Infantry (Beppu)[15]
- Camp Drake—Asaka, Saitama Prefecture
- Camp Drew—Gunma Prefecture
- Camp Fuchinobe—Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Camp Gifu—Gifu Prefecture
- Camp Hakata[16]
- Camp Katagai—Toyoumi, Kujukuri-Machi, Chiba Prefecture
- Camp Kokura—Fukuoka Prefecture
- Camp Mcgill—Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Camp Moore—Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Camp Mower, 34th Infantry (Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture)[17]
- Camp Nara—Nara Prefecture
- Camp Oji (Army Hospital)—Higashi-Jujo, Tokyo
- Camp Omiya—Omiya, Saitama Prefecture
- Camp Palmer—Narashino, Chiba Prefecture
- Camp Sendai-Nigatake, Miyagi Prefecture
- Camp Whittington—Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture
- Camp Wood, 21st Infantry (Kumamoto)[18]
- Chuo Kogyo (ACAN Station)—Wako, Saitama Prefecture
- Division School Center, Kokura[19]
- Hamby AAF—Okinawa Prefecture
- Kishine Barracks—Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Pershing Heights (Hq FEC)—Ichigaya, Tokyo
- Grant Heights—Hikarigaoka, Tokyo
- Washington Heights—Yoyogi, Tokyo
- U.S. Army Medical Center—Sagami Ono, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Yokohama Ordnance Depot (YOD)—Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Yokohama Signal Supply Depot—Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Navy:
- Honmoku Housing Area—Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Naval Air Facility Oppama—Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Kishine
Air Force:
- Ashiya
- Brady Air Base
- Chitose Air Base
- Gannosu Air Station
- Fuchu Air Station
- Haneda Air Base
- Itami Air Base
- Itazuke Air Base
- Johnson Air Base
- Naha Air Base
- Miho Air Base
- Showa Air Station
- Shiroi Air Base
- Tachikawa Air Base
- Wakkanai
- Yamato Air Station (TAB add.)
Marines:
- Makiminato Housing Area
[edit] See also
- United States Forces Korea (USFK)
[edit] References
- ^ 疑惑が晴れるのはいつか, Okinawa Times, May 16, 1999
- ^ America's Unsinkable Fleet, Newsweek, 26 Feb 2007
- ^ 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, December 12, 2007
- ^ PRESS RELEASE U.S. and Japan Sign Alliance Support Agreement, The embassy of the United States in Japan
- ^ 自衛隊・防衛問題に関する世論調査, The Cabinet Office of Japan
- ^ 復帰25年世論調査, Okinawa Times
- ^ 基地騒音の問題, Yamato City
- ^ 横田基地における騒音防止対策の徹底について（要請）, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- ^ 嘉手納町の概要, Kadena Town
- ^ a b 衆議院外務委員会議事録、平成17年7月1日, House of Representatives of Japan Foreign Affairs Committee, July 2, 2005
- ^ Lah, Kyung. "U.S. Marine accused of raping teen in Okinawa", CNN, 2008.02.10.
- ^ "Japanese protest against US base", Al Jazeera, 2008-03-23.
- ^ "Curfew for US troops in Okinawa", BBC, 2008-02-20.
- ^ U.S. imposes curfew on Okinawa forces, The Japan Times, February 21, 2008
- ^ A Soldier in Kyushu, By Capt. William B. Koons, Oct. 01, 1947
- ^ A Soldier in Kyushu, By Capt. William B. Koons, Oct. 01, 1947
- ^ A Soldier in Kyushu, By Capt. William B. Koons, Oct. 01, 1947
- ^ A Soldier in Kyushu, By Capt. William B. Koons, Oct. 01, 1947
- ^ A Soldier in Kyushu, By Capt. William B. Koons, Oct. 01, 1947
[edit] External links
