May 12, 2026
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie and local JCP lawmakers in Kanagawa Prefecture on May 11 submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a written request addressed to Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, demanding a ban on the use of U.S. bases in the prefecture, such as those in Yokosuka and Atsugi, to assist in the war on Iran.
The JCP in its document also demanded that the government not accommodate the request of the U.S. forces in Japan to commit to further involvement and not endorse their military operations.
In a meeting with ministry officials, Hatano pointed out that under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the use of U.S. military bases in Japan is allowed for the purpose of contributing to maintaining the security of Japan, and that when the U.S. Forces Japan conduct combat operations overseas, they are required to engage in prior consultation with Japan.
The JCP Lower House lawmaker said that the deployment of two Yokosuka-based Aegis ships and an Atsugi-based helicopter unit to the ongoing war of aggression against Iran violates the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty on the grounds that no prior consultation was held and that the deployment has nothing to do with Japan’s security.
A ministry official said, “Prior consultation is required in the case of combat missions, i.e., military actions aimed at directly engaging in combat. There is no need for such consultation when the U.S. military sends its troops from Japan to other regions.”
JCP member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Isaka Shin’ya argued, “The government has no means of checking how the U.S. forces in Japan use their facilities and whether their use complies with the bilateral security treaty. This is a serious problem.”
Hatano noted that concerns have arisen among local residents that Japan might be attacked in retaliation for lending a hand to the U.S. attack on Iran and the possibility that it may play a part in the unlawful war. She demanded that the U.S.-Iran conflict be settled through diplomatic negotiations.
Past related articles:
> Tamura: Gov’t should ban use of US bases in Japan for US-Israeli war on Iran [March 15 & 17, 2026]
> 2 Yokosuka-based US Aegis ships fire Tomahawk missiles at Iran [March 6 & 8, 2026]
The JCP in its document also demanded that the government not accommodate the request of the U.S. forces in Japan to commit to further involvement and not endorse their military operations.
In a meeting with ministry officials, Hatano pointed out that under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the use of U.S. military bases in Japan is allowed for the purpose of contributing to maintaining the security of Japan, and that when the U.S. Forces Japan conduct combat operations overseas, they are required to engage in prior consultation with Japan.
The JCP Lower House lawmaker said that the deployment of two Yokosuka-based Aegis ships and an Atsugi-based helicopter unit to the ongoing war of aggression against Iran violates the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty on the grounds that no prior consultation was held and that the deployment has nothing to do with Japan’s security.
A ministry official said, “Prior consultation is required in the case of combat missions, i.e., military actions aimed at directly engaging in combat. There is no need for such consultation when the U.S. military sends its troops from Japan to other regions.”
JCP member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Isaka Shin’ya argued, “The government has no means of checking how the U.S. forces in Japan use their facilities and whether their use complies with the bilateral security treaty. This is a serious problem.”
Hatano noted that concerns have arisen among local residents that Japan might be attacked in retaliation for lending a hand to the U.S. attack on Iran and the possibility that it may play a part in the unlawful war. She demanded that the U.S.-Iran conflict be settled through diplomatic negotiations.
Past related articles:
> Tamura: Gov’t should ban use of US bases in Japan for US-Israeli war on Iran [March 15 & 17, 2026]
> 2 Yokosuka-based US Aegis ships fire Tomahawk missiles at Iran [March 6 & 8, 2026]
