Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has sparked controversy with the start of its series of flights of its MV-22 Ospreys at Tachikawa Airfield, and the move was met with protests outside the camp.
The aircraft took off from JGSDF Camp Kisarazu, located in the city of Kisarazu in the Chiba Prefecture southeast of Tokyo, on Feb. 1 and made its way to Tachikawa Airfield in the western suburbs of Tokyo.
Once it arrived at Tachikawa Airfield, the V-22 began a series of maneuvering exercises, including circular flights and landing and takeoff operations. It circled the airfield from the east to the north side, performing these operations, before repeating them on the east side of the airfield and then taking off after approximately 15 minutes.
The V-22 Osprey, known for its unique capabilities of vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter, as well as long-range flights like a fixed-wing aircraft, has faced a number of crashes and other problems in its use by the U.S. military. These concerns have prompted local residents to question the safety of the aircraft.
The protesters were five citizen groups active in the suburban Tokyo cities of Tachikawa, Kunitachi, and other areas. They staged a protest in front of the main gate of JGSDF Camp Tachikawa, expressing their concern and opposition to the use of V-22 Osprey aircraft in the area. Kyoko Fukushima, a 73-year-old who leads the group “Sunagawa Heiwa Hiroba,” (Sunagawa peace plaza), commented on the situation, stating that “training over the heads of 1 million people (in the surrounding eight cities) ignores human rights. We will never permit the transport aircraft to fly over this residential area and in the skies above Japan.”
Despite these worries, the JGSDF is pushing ahead with its plan to train for emergency airlifts in the event of a disaster and to improve pilot skills. These flights are expected to take place several times a month, with the JGSDF opting not to provide advance information to prevent potential disruptions from the ground.
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