Residents indignant at loud midnight noise from U.S. Yokota Air Base

Loud midnight noise surprised residents living near the U.S. Yokota Air Base, a densely populated area in suburban Tokyo. Akahata of May 16 and 17 reported about the midnight "Giant Voice Function Exercises" (May 13-17) as follows:

Around 9:30 p.m. on May 15, explosion-like sounds and loud sirens echoed from the base.

A resident near the base site said that there was a lightning-like flash on the base, followed by several air-raid-like sounds, then "Exercises!" and "Bravo!" were broadcast through "giant voices."

As much as 150 telephone calls were made to the Fussa City office, one of the cities hosting the air base. An officer said that the U.S. Forces informed the city that residents would not be annoyed by the exercises. Over 200 protest calls were made.

The Liaison Council of local governments hosting the U.S. Yokota Air Base, including the Tokyo Metropolitan government, on May 16 made representations to the Yokota Base commander, expressing indignation at the midnight exercises and demanding an immediate halt to the exercises. (end)