July 4, 2026
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie and JCP Kanagawa prefectural assemblypersons on July 2 demanded that the governor urge Nissan Motor not to sell its Oppama Plant to a new U.S. arms company.
Nissan plans to close the plant in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in March 2028. According to Reuters, the U.S.-based ammunition firm Anduril Industries is in talks to acquire the plant with the aim of turning it into a production base for military drones.
Isaka Shinya, a JCP assemblymember, noted that the plant was originally built on land that had been used as an Imperial Japanese Navy base during WWII, but was sold off by the postwar government with the aim of transforming the area into a port city focused on peaceful industries. He argued that allowing the war industry to operate in a location with such a history would contradict the plant’s founding significance which stemmed from Japan’s reflection on its war of aggression.
Hatano stated, “Many Yokosuka citizens are concerned that the plant may become a target for attack in the event of a military emergency. It’s important for voices to be raised from various quarters,” and urged the governor to oppose the sale of the plant to the arms firm.
JCP members of the Yokosuka City Assembly made a similar demand to the city mayor on June 29. The assemblypersons stated, “Military munitions are not consumed in large quantities unless war or conflict breaks out. Such products are incompatible with the city’s policy of pursuing sound and sustainable industries.” They said that the city should strictly adhere to this policy and to the principle of being a “peaceful port city”.
Nissan plans to close the plant in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in March 2028. According to Reuters, the U.S.-based ammunition firm Anduril Industries is in talks to acquire the plant with the aim of turning it into a production base for military drones.
Isaka Shinya, a JCP assemblymember, noted that the plant was originally built on land that had been used as an Imperial Japanese Navy base during WWII, but was sold off by the postwar government with the aim of transforming the area into a port city focused on peaceful industries. He argued that allowing the war industry to operate in a location with such a history would contradict the plant’s founding significance which stemmed from Japan’s reflection on its war of aggression.
Hatano stated, “Many Yokosuka citizens are concerned that the plant may become a target for attack in the event of a military emergency. It’s important for voices to be raised from various quarters,” and urged the governor to oppose the sale of the plant to the arms firm.
JCP members of the Yokosuka City Assembly made a similar demand to the city mayor on June 29. The assemblypersons stated, “Military munitions are not consumed in large quantities unless war or conflict breaks out. Such products are incompatible with the city’s policy of pursuing sound and sustainable industries.” They said that the city should strictly adhere to this policy and to the principle of being a “peaceful port city”.
