U.S. Marines start live shooting practice in Hokkaido

U.S. Marines in Okinawa on September 16 started their 10-day live shooting practice at the Yausubetsu Training Area of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in Hokkaido Prefecture.

The 5th practice in Yausubetsu is the largest scale ever with about 420 military personnel, 100 vehicles, and 8 howitzers taking part.

The Japanese government promised that the practice will be at the same level as the one in Okinawa. However, U.S. Marines stated that it will carry out night training as well as training to deal with nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, which were not conducted in Okinawa.

On September 15, about 750 people participated in a rally in Bekkai Town against the U.S. live fire practice. Yoshioka Yoshinori, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors, and Onishi Teruo from Okinawa's Nago Council against the Construction of U.S. On-Sea Heliport spoke in solidarity. (end)