September 20& 22, 2025

In defiance of opposition from surrounding local municipal heads, the U.S. military on September 17 forcibly launched field carrier landing practice (FCLP) exercises at the U.S. Iwakuni base in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for the first time in 25 years.

The U.S. forces explained that the drills involving F35 stealth fighters will take place twice a day (from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm and from 6:45 to 9:45), every day except weekends until September 26.

In Iwakuni City, for three days between September 17 and September 19 alone, the number of flights during the FCLP drills reached 704, and the number of complaints made by residents to the city government totaled 496. A noise monitoring device, which Ozu Town placed at the south of the base, recorded noise levels exceeding 70 dB 851 times.

On the first night of the drills, Japanese Communist Party city assemblyperson Matsuda Kazushi and local peace activists gathered in the vicinity of the base to observe the drills. Matsuda said, “Together with citizens, we will raise our voices against the FCLP.”

In Hiroshima’s Hatsukaichi City, one of municipalities near the Iwakuni base, a JCP local organization on September 19 took to the streets to protest against the FCLP drills.

Former JCP Dietmember Ohira Yoshinobu said, “The roar of U.S. military jets participating in the FCLP drills is having negative impacts on Hatsukaichi citizens’ daily lives. It is unacceptable that such outrageous military drills are held at various locations in Japan.” Stating that the JCP calls for peace diplomacy that utilizes Article 9 of the Constitution and not relies on military force, Ohira appealed for the need to strive to maintain peace and democracy.