Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Roppongi district in central Tokyo is known for its vibrant nightlife, but less known is a US military installation known as the Akasaka Press Center, which a protest movement is trying to shut down.

A protest is held every April in nearby Aoyama Park calling for the removal of the US military installation, which includes the Japan office of military newspaper “Stars and Stripes,” a barracks and a heliport.

The demonstrations are organized by a civic group advocating for the closure of the facility, citing concerns over noise, safety, and its role in regional security dynamics. 

Participants gathered there recently holding signs and banners and voicing opposition to the continued presence of the base. Organizers argued that the facility poses risks to nearby residents due to low-altitude helicopter flights and operational noise. The Roppongi area has seen a big increase in the number of high-rise buildings in recent years, making flying into the base more hazardous.

Speakers at the event also raised broader concerns about Japan’s involvement in US-led military activities, warning that such facilities could draw the country into international conflicts.

The protests reflect ongoing debate in Japan over the presence of US military installations, particularly in densely populated urban areas. 

Protests against US military presence in Japan are frequent, especially in areas near US bases, such as in southern Okinawa Prefecture and around Yokosuka port, home of the US 7th Fleet.

In Okinawa, horrific events such as multiple assaults against women and the killing of residents in vehicle accidents have resulted in thousands of people protesting, but the Japanese government is not inclined to put pressure on the US military.