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2026 February 18 - 24 [SDF]

Miyazaki citizens protest against wildfire during SDF live-fire drills

A wildfire broke out in the middle of a live-fire mortar training exercise held at the Gound Self-Defense Force Kirishima Training Area (Miyazaki’s Ebino City and Kagoshima’s Yusui Town) on February 20. No injuries were reported.

Later on the day in Miyazaki City, citizens staged a protest regarding the incident. Representatives of the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party took part in this action.

A former SDP member of the Ebino City Assembly said, “As the SDF claims that to ensure the safety and security of citizens is the top priority in holding military drills, it should conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the fire and make the results public.” A 92-year-old woman living near the SDF training area’s gate demanded that the SDF not disregard citizens’ safety.

The demonstrators also expressed their opposition to the Japan-U.S. joint military drills and the plan to deploy long-range missiles to the GSDF Camp Ebino.