September 26 & 27, 2025
Local governments surrounding the U.S. Iwakuni Base (Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Pref.) on September 26 demanded that the Japanese and U.S. governments never again conduct field carrier-borne aircraft landing practice (FCLP) exercises at the base.
They protested that the U.S. military had carried out FCLP exercises on September 23, a national holiday in Japan, despite its prior acknowledgment that it would not conduct the exercises on weekends or national holidays. They also protested that the training drills exceeded the announced duration of the exercise.
According to Iwakuni City, an aircraft believed to be an E-2D early warning aircraft circled over the base on the night of the 23rd, repeatedly performing touch-and-go landing maneuvers. Training that took place during the daytime on the 24th exceeded the notified time period by about two hours. The weighted equivalent continuous perceived noise level (WECPNL) topped 80 daily, peaking at 84.7.
Iwakuni City Mayor Fukuda Yoshihiko stated that the city had received 994 noise complaints from residents. He said, “The FCLP drills imposed an even greater burden on residents near the base who are already suffering from aircraft noise on a daily basis.”
Defense Minister Nakatani Gen said in response, “We will continue to strongly urge the U.S. side to minimize the negative impact on the local community,” but did not indicate any intention to request the U.S. military to stop conducting FCLP at the base.
The municipalities and the local assembly that protested the U.S. FCLP drills include: Yamaguchi Prefecture, Iwakuni City, Yanai City, Suo-oshima Town, Waki Town, and the Iwakuni City Assembly.
They protested that the U.S. military had carried out FCLP exercises on September 23, a national holiday in Japan, despite its prior acknowledgment that it would not conduct the exercises on weekends or national holidays. They also protested that the training drills exceeded the announced duration of the exercise.
According to Iwakuni City, an aircraft believed to be an E-2D early warning aircraft circled over the base on the night of the 23rd, repeatedly performing touch-and-go landing maneuvers. Training that took place during the daytime on the 24th exceeded the notified time period by about two hours. The weighted equivalent continuous perceived noise level (WECPNL) topped 80 daily, peaking at 84.7.
Iwakuni City Mayor Fukuda Yoshihiko stated that the city had received 994 noise complaints from residents. He said, “The FCLP drills imposed an even greater burden on residents near the base who are already suffering from aircraft noise on a daily basis.”
Defense Minister Nakatani Gen said in response, “We will continue to strongly urge the U.S. side to minimize the negative impact on the local community,” but did not indicate any intention to request the U.S. military to stop conducting FCLP at the base.
The municipalities and the local assembly that protested the U.S. FCLP drills include: Yamaguchi Prefecture, Iwakuni City, Yanai City, Suo-oshima Town, Waki Town, and the Iwakuni City Assembly.
