Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Iwakuni Carrier Landing Drills Face Fresh Rebuke as Yamaguchi Governor Joins On-Site Review

The prefectural leader pledged to push for a halt after observing the exercises proceed despite prior requests to cancel.

Overview

  • U.S. carrier-based aircraft have conducted field carrier landing practice at MCAS Iwakuni since Sept. 17 with daytime and nighttime sessions under a published schedule.
  • Yamaguchi Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka inspected the training on Sept. 19 from outside the base for about 30 minutes and said he will demand it not be conducted again.
  • Iwakuni Mayor Ryohiko Fukuda observed about an hour of nighttime operations on Sept. 18 and criticized the national government and U.S. military for proceeding despite city requests to stop.
  • Iwakuni City logged 90 resident complaints on Sept. 17, including roughly 80 about noise, with some callers expressing concern about effects on children.
  • The city corrected its Sept. 17 noise-event counts at two locations to daytime tallies of 133 and 159 and totals of 202 and 263, and observers reported the Sept. 18 daytime phase ran past the announced window with night flights starting early.