February 20, 2026
Civil groups in the cities of Sasebo (Nagasaki Pref.), Kure (Hiroshima Pref.), Maizuru (Kyoto), and Yokosuka (Kanagawa Pref.) on February 19 jointly held a rally in the House of Councillors members’ office building, demanding the withdrawal of the plan to deploy Tomahawk missiles to their cities based on the three national security documents.
The four cities have a common history of being developed as naval port cities from the Meiji era to the end of the war.
The rally also called for reviving the four cities as peace-time industrial coast cities in line with the Law for Conversion of Former Naval Port Cities.
Japanese Communist Party lawmakers Yamazoe Taku (Upper House) and Hatano Kimie (Lower House) and Social Democratic Party lawmaker Fukushima Mizuho (Upper House) delivered speeches in solidarity.
In Maizuru City, projects are underway which include the renovation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Headquarters Maizuru District to withstand a nuclear attack as well as the construction of a new ammunition storage depot.
In Kure City, the SDF has launched its new unit “Maritime Transport Group” tasked with transporting military equipment such as ammunition and tanks to the Nansei Islands. It also plans to convert escort ships into aircraft carriers.
In Sasebo City, the SDF intends to install Tomahawk missiles on its Aegis destroyers, which will pave the way for the SDF to possess the capability to fight wars jointly with the U.S. military.
An activist from Yokosuka City reported that a signature campaign has started to increase public opposition to the plan to deploy the Tomahawk cruise missile to the city, and already 32,132 people signed their names on the petition against the Tomahawk deployment.
The four cities have a common history of being developed as naval port cities from the Meiji era to the end of the war.
The rally also called for reviving the four cities as peace-time industrial coast cities in line with the Law for Conversion of Former Naval Port Cities.
Japanese Communist Party lawmakers Yamazoe Taku (Upper House) and Hatano Kimie (Lower House) and Social Democratic Party lawmaker Fukushima Mizuho (Upper House) delivered speeches in solidarity.
In Maizuru City, projects are underway which include the renovation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Headquarters Maizuru District to withstand a nuclear attack as well as the construction of a new ammunition storage depot.
In Kure City, the SDF has launched its new unit “Maritime Transport Group” tasked with transporting military equipment such as ammunition and tanks to the Nansei Islands. It also plans to convert escort ships into aircraft carriers.
In Sasebo City, the SDF intends to install Tomahawk missiles on its Aegis destroyers, which will pave the way for the SDF to possess the capability to fight wars jointly with the U.S. military.
An activist from Yokosuka City reported that a signature campaign has started to increase public opposition to the plan to deploy the Tomahawk cruise missile to the city, and already 32,132 people signed their names on the petition against the Tomahawk deployment.
