March 15, 2026

More than 100 local residents gathered in front of a gate of the Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture on March 14 where long-range missiles capable of striking enemy bases are scheduled to be deployed. They shouted in unison, “Don’t fire long-range missiles from Fuji!”

Many local residents are increasingly concerned about the nationwide deployment of missiles under the Takaichi government.

Mount Fuji, a World Heritage site, is clearly visible from near the GSDF camp. The protesters appealed, “Let’s raise our voices and say, ‘No’ to missiles at Mt. Fuji! We won’t let our hometown become a missile launch site for war.”

Utsugi Kota, a rally participant in his 20s, stated that it is unacceptable for the government to proceed with acquiring a counterstrike capability without explaining this move to the general public. He added, “True peace cannot be achieved through military means.”

Watanabe Kiichi, a rally participant in his 70s, said, “In 1967, the Shizuoka governor and the director general of the Defense Facilities Administration Agency agreed not to turn the Higashi-Fuji training range and its surrounding areas into a missile base,” and criticized the government for seeking to renege on this agreement.

Past related articles:
> Defense Ministry under cover of darkness delivers long-range missiles to SDF base in Kumamoto [March 10, 2026]
> Nationwide deployment of long-range missiles incompatible with Japan’s exclusively defense-oriented policy [September 5, 2025]