March 18, 2026

Being under fire from local residents, an exhibition of launchers and other equipment for the conventional and improved Type 12 land-to-ship guided missiles took place on March 17 at the Ground Self-Defense Force Kengun Camp in Kumamoto City.

It is believed that the exhibition was held as part of the planned deployment of the improved Type 12 missile capable of attacking enemy bases from a long distance. The exhibition was opened to a limited number of people, such as the Kumamoto governor, the Kumamoto City mayor, members of the prefectural and city assemblies, and community associations’ executives.

Japanese Communist Party prefectural assemblyperson Ueno Mieko, who participated in the protest action, expressed her determination to work together with local residents to urge the Defense Ministry to hold a public briefing and withdraw the deployment plan.

One of the protesters, Yamashita Masahiko, said, “Holding the exhibition is not our demand. What we are demanding is that the Defense Ministry brief us in-person about the deployment.”