Chemicals from U.S. base in Tokyo fueling residents' fears

Foul and rampant hypocrisy.

Military bases use all manner of toxic substances for their training activities, and in addition consume massive amounts of CO2 emitting gasoline.

You want "protection"?- Be prepared for the consequences, and also be prepared to pay a lot of money for it.

Do they run these same tests on residents far away from the base? I suspect they will find that despite the "ban" they are everywhere. Isn't Japan the land of plastic?

Yeah, don’t eat it now; chemicals.

Cost of using other country protection, your land and water become polluted.

It is generally said that PFAS is very harmful substance to people's heath and Fukushima's treated tritium water is not harmful at all. Some lands that US military used for a long time were returned back to Japan later are found toxic (agent orange)/chemical substances from there.

Then run the tests... quit the BS conjecture and do something. Start a group... get some funding and pay someone to test the soil. This is the 3rd time I've read the same story in the last 4 years. Do something.

The foam they spray on a jet fuel fire is no joke. It works, but it's wicked toxic.

Some geezer hobbyists in an old WWII bomber augered it into the ground at a local airport a few years back, and that foam crap they slopped all over it killed some off the surrounding streams and a small river.

The US military is notorious for dumping toxic chemicals in and around its bases, not to mention other polluting activities (read "Poisoning the Pacific" by J. Mitchell (2020)). It hardly cares about its own people - why would anyone expect it to care about the civilians of other countries?

Okay, so imagine releasing a bunch of nuclear waste water into the ocean, frustrating your neighbors and causing potentially months of international controversy in the process, having the American ambassador kindly travel up to Fukushima to eat the fish for you in order to prove it's safe, then getting upset with the one country that has your back because one of their bases, there to literally protect your country, may be causing some miniscule degree of environmental disruption.

Literally no self-awareness!

This is the problem/price you pay, when you surrender/cede control of your land/country/etc, to foreigner.

And after loudly complaining the nearby base they go shopping at supermarkets and DIY centers with big pleasure for all kind of chemicals and fill up all their homes, cars, workplaces with those contaminating chemicals. Insect killers, household and toilet cleaners, car perfumes and a lot more, the offering shelves are full to the ceiling and the shopping carts almost burst from the masses of bought chemicals so to say.. So please, first look into own mirrors and check your very own self before pointing to any others farther away.

It seems to me dumping toxic chemicals in/around the base have nothing to do with US-Japan security treaty or releasing treated tritium water by/with IAEA guideline.

It seems to me dumping toxic chemicals in/around the base have nothing to do with US-Japan security treaty or releasing treated tritium water by/with IAEA guideline.

Are you capable of comprehending the idea of "context"?

Are you capable of comprehending the idea of "context"?

I wanna to say the same thing to you.

What is the main problem of this article? No doubt the US military is dumping toxic chemicals there whatever.

Let me elaborate on this a little bit further.

Japan:

-just safely** dumped a ton nuclear waste water into the ocean. I put an asterick on this because although I felt they did all they could, they wouldn't have even needed to dumb the water into the ocean had more safety measures been in place to begin with at the time of the original accident. And we still really don't know what the long term consequences will be, if any.

-consumes truly excessive amounts of plastic, and also dumps that into the ocean.

-still tolerates the murdering of whales, and also murders a ton of whales.

-chops down trees that have been standing for hundreds of years... so they can build mixed use high rises nobody will move into.

Meanwhile, they cry like a baby and play the victim when China bans the import of their fish, even though they started this by banning the export of their semiconductors to said country; and, simultaneously have the audacity to complain to their one military ally about the environmental impact of their bases, that also effectively protect them from that same neighboring country that is currently banning their fish. Has any one American ally been any more pathetic or hypocritical?

They are doing this because they want to negotiate a cheaper price for outsourcing their defense to the US. That's what this is really about.

Japan has saved a lot of money thanks to the US because they have been able to invest the money that they don't spend on defense into their economy. Essentially, they get a superior military defending their soil for a cheaper price.

It's time for them to stop acting helpless / hypocritical and get themselves in order.

You want protection, one of the prices you pay.

Besides, take a look at the beaches, rivers, and parks. Do you mean to tell me the US military pollutes all those places too?

Oh let's not forget about Japan dumping radioactive wastewater into our oceans. But since they're doing it, they get a pass.

there to literally protect your country, may be causing some miniscule degree of environmental disruption.

It sounds like the US protects Japan, so forget crimes even if US soldiers committed crimes such as raping, stealing, dumping chemicals illegally etc. Japan has constitutional law, can't ignore any crimes.

Oh let's not forget about Japan dumping radioactive wastewater into our oceans

All nuclear power plants all over the world are dumping radioactive tritium water into lake/ocean. Don't forget the US has been also dumping much more than Japan so far. But of course, France is number 1.

Japan has saved a lot of money thanks to the US because they have been able to invest the money that they don't spend on defense into their economy. Essentially, they get a superior military defending their soil for a cheaper price.

Japan could not build up its own military after WW2. The US did not let Japan do it. That's why the US had to protect Japan and the US wanted to put military bases in Okinawa for its national interest, so that is US-Japan security treaty. If Japan could build up its own military, it would not need the US protection. So it has been recovering its country economy without wars. by the way, Japan is paying the US military much more than Germany, Italy and others. And Japan always thanks the US.

The fact that the strongest evidence this LONG AND MEANDERING article comes up with is the following UNFOUNDED allegations should tell one all they need to know about the evidence right now:

"Although I cannot swear by it, I strongly suspect..." That's NOT proof. From a complete NOVICE who lives in the area (and who,surprise surprise! has anti-base sentiments).

"There might be other major sources of pollution (oh, really??), such as factories, for instance, but I can say for sure that the extinguisher leakages at the U.S. base are one of the contributing factors" Can you really "say for sure"...based on what? If your unproven allegations are found true, the situation can only be attributed to a TEMPORARY, ACCIDENTAL situation, not a constant ongoing thing? "...An accident that should never have happened" Yes, yes it was.

Do an investigation. Research the situation further beyond "hunches" of the locals. Use the scientific method, and if wrong is being done, prosecute or press for reparations. Because we all can't base our reality on your "hunches" or "gut feelings," now, can we?

@Hito BitoToday 02:08 pm JST

Do an investigation. Research the situation further beyond "hunches" of the locals. Use the scientific method, and if wrong is being done, prosecute or press for reparations. Because we all can't base our reality on your "hunches" or "gut feelings," now, can we?

And here we bump into the problem where the burden of proof has to be adjusted by the actual ability of each party to produce it. If it's say a SDF base, then at least the Japanese government would have full jurisdiction to perform tests. Whether you believe they would report any bad news to their full value is another issue - but at least they can do the tests.

On a US base they de facto (and likely de jure) don't have that jurisdiction. They basically have to take whatever the US military admits to. Much as we may argue for "investigation", when the investigation isn't going to happen a decision will have to be made on whatever information is at hand, rather than insisting we must all act as if it definitely did not happen.

FWIW my personal thought is that the US military is a large organization, and when you are above a certain size, you will have a non-zero failure rate. Any single person is most likely not a criminal, but put 1000 random guys together and the odds favor at least one or two of them to be such. So if a few honest accidents happened with the fire extinguishers, so be it as long as it is not an above average rate.

But that's not the same as being kept in the dark.

Welcome to the club! In Okinawa we've had to put up with decades of chemical weapons being dumped. Agent Orange and the like.

Many bases have problems with health-damaging chemicals and others like asbestos.

The health-damaging chemicals hurt the American troops too.

If the DOD can do this to their own citizens, it is not unlikely that they can also do intentional harm to other people in line with their depopulation agenda.

You want protection, one of the prices you pay.

Indeed, the Japanese can feel at ease knowing that America has their back, just like America has Ukraine's back....

Raw BeerToday 03:53 pm JST

You want protection, one of the prices you pay.

Indeed, the Japanese can feel at ease knowing that America has their back, just like America has Ukraine's back....

We don't have a treaty with Ukraine, but are you telling us the 100 billion is not enough? How very supportive of Ukraine all of a sudden...

Indeed, the Japanese can feel at ease knowing that America has their back, just like America has Ukraine's back....

Only difference is Japan is not at war (for 78 years and from now) and also pays a lot of money to the US military facilities.

When the American military is finally kicked out of Japan they will leave behind toxic chemicals and other dangerous materials just like all other countries the US military has exited. It will be worse in Japan because US forces have been based in Japan for more than seven decades.

Indeed, the Japanese can feel at ease knowing that America has their back, just like America has Ukraine's back....

Yes, America has not only Japan's back but also it has most of democratic countries' back too, except China, Russia, Noth Korea and Cuba. Because the USA is a world police. That's why the US always send US soldiers all over the world.

Seven times leakage within a total of four years? How unprofessional in the first place even though firefighter at an air base would be a pretty boring job preparing for a once in a career time incidence...haha

deanzaZZRToday 04:33 pm JST

When the American military is finally kicked out of Japan they will leave behind toxic chemicals and other dangerous materials just like all other countries the US military has exited. It will be worse in Japan because US forces have been based in Japan for more than seven decades.

Guess it is good that is not going to happen then. Better find ways to work with the US military rather than having a single town do blood tests and ringing alarm bells.

It'd be nice to have comparable data from other places in Japan not located next to military bases to see if these results are an anomaly.

I have posted many times before in JT comments that Okinawa is still being occupied by the U.S forces.. The China, North Korea znd Russia threats are nothing but excuses to prolong this state of affairs. Otherwise, Washington can promise us the return of bases by showing the timetable of their return. Futenma's relocation to Henoko runs counter to our expectation, showing firmly that the U.S. forces are to stay here forever.

The PFAS problem is nothing new to us, especially to people living around Kadena Air Base and USMC Air Station Futenma. Is Japan as a whole still being occupied to this day just like Okinawa?

If China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea are criticizing Japan's treated water, it proves that Japan's actions are not wrong.

Who would believe what China, Russia, North Korea and South Korea say today?

Even Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping did not say that the Senkaku Islands were Chinese territory, but when they found out that resources would be available, China began to say that it was their territory.

And it came to frequently invade Japan's territorial waters and airspace.

If anyone still thinks China isn't a threat, they're dreaming. It's out of the question.

When his own country became inconvenient, he unilaterally stopped exporting rare earths, stopped importing coal, and ended up strangling himself.

Even if China does not import Japanese seafood, it does not matter much in terms of money. Seafood prices are already returning to normal.

Despite losing in international courts, China has seized territorial waters from the Philippines and oppressed ethnic minorities. Recently, they are drowning their own people downstream with the dam's water discharge, saying that the dam will break due to heavy rain.

However, it does not report any damage.

China has absolutely no right to criticize Japan.

""Although I cannot swear by it, I strongly suspect that the Yokota base has a connection to the outcomes of the blood tests,"

Sure, of course! It's the person you have no proof of but is the easiest to point the finger at. Meanwhile, as Japan dumps nuclear waste in the world's oceans it is nothing but silence from these people, if not flat out defense -- and there is PROOF they are doing it in that case. The proof of harm I have no doubt will come quite soon, follow by the shoulder shrugs and "Who could have known?"s.

Cost of using other country protection, your land and water become polluted.

Every fire department, airport, oil refinery, bulk fuel storage facility and a lot of large factories in Japan, and every other country, uses the very same chemicals in fire smothering foams

Sure, of course! It's the person you have no proof of but is the easiest to point the finger at. Meanwhile, as Japan dumps nuclear waste in the world's oceans it is nothing but silence from these people, if not flat out defense -- and there is PROOF they are doing it in that case

Sigh. Tritium is naturally occurring in all the worlds oceans, lakes and rivers. It is formed in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays strike nitrogen atoms. It is absorbed into oceans and other surface bodies of water from the air in proportion to it's partial pressure in the atmosphere. The concentrations of tritium in the oceans are not going to be affected by the amount of tritium stored at Fukushima. That quantity is vanishingly small in comparison to the amount that occurs naturally. In any event from the 1940s-1970s or so the concentration of tritium in the oceans was about double what it is today due to atmospheric nuclear testing and we didn't all die from it. There are a lot of hysterics about nothing here.

I have posted many times before in JT comments that Okinawa is still being occupied by the U.S forces.. The China, North Korea znd Russia threats are nothing but excuses to prolong this state of affairs. Otherwise, Washington can promise us the return of bases by showing the timetable of their return. Futenma's relocation to Henoko runs counter to our expectation, showing firmly that the U.S. forces are to stay here forever.

Would it make you happy if the US promoted the return of the Ryukyus to China? After all the very same China you claim is no threat maintains that the Ryukyus are occupied not by the US but by Japan and that the Ryukyus are rightfully a vassal state of China. Is that what you want?

What "return" are you talking about? Your understanding of East Asia history is sorely lacking.

Would it make you happy if the US promoted the return of the Ryukyus to China?

What "return" are you talking about? Your understanding of East Asia history is sorely lacking.

I was referring to the Chinese point of view that the Ryukyu Islands are legitimately part of China but are currently occupied by Japan. I was being a little bit sarcastic in my comment because Voicesinmyheadinokinawa is so adamant that the US somehow still "occupies" Okinawa. So I pointed out that from the Chinese perspective it is Japan that occupies Okinawa and their academics and press have said exactly this numerous times.

@Desert Tortoise Deflection. Tributary status was de facto international relations in East Asia for two millennium. Ryukyu Ming/Qing China relations only brought benefits to locals in terms of trade, governance and education. Satsuma and Meiji Japan on the other hand.... well, you love those USA Okinawa bases. That's another story.

Chemicals from U.S. base in Tokyo fueling residents' fears...................................If they think that's bad, they should read about the chemicals, some toxic, that USA meat producers put in their products, It will open your eyes, believe me. And it is the reason why the EU have banned so many USA food products. Oh, and they cover their vegetables and fruit the same.

Desert Tortoise,

Your comment suggests all the more that the U.S. wants to keep Okinawa forever as a bastion against China and also against Japan. As for Japan, the U.S. doesn't want to let a genie out of the bottle and so a permanent U.S. military presence is necessary.

In other words, this huge U.S. military presence in Japan is not for the defense and security of Japan, as departing USFJ commanders tout so loudly; they say that USFJ troops are always ready to sacrifice themselves to defend Japan.

The gullible Japanese government takes this at face value and squanders tax money lavishly for USFJ. Today, 74% of the U.S. base maintenance cost is borne by Japanese taxpayers.

In other words, this huge U.S. military presence in Japan is not for the defense and security of Japan, as departing USFJ commanders tout so loudly; they say that USFJ troops are always ready to sacrifice themselves to defend Japan.

Every western leaning government in the Indo Pacific region including that of Japan, and a couple of European capitals, would be chewing their nails if the US removed their forces from Okinawa. Until China democratizes having western forces on the first island chain prevents China from taking over Taiwan and probably Japan. Your dear Okinawa is a piece of real estate China covets almost as much as they covet Taiwan. As I have said before if US forces left Okinawa the chow hall seats wouldn't have a chance to cool down before PLA butts would be sitting in those same chow hall seats having breakfast.

Desert Tortoise: Today  03:51 am JST

Every western leaning government in the Indo Pacific region including that of Japan, and a couple of European capitals, would be chewing their nails if the US removed their forces from Okinawa.

Judging from what you say, it's become more and more apparent that the U.S. forces are stationed here not to defend Japan but fend off an assertive China from the region or maybe to not let a genie out of the bottle. 

Why should Okinawa play an unwanted role for such a scheme?

Isn’t it possible for U.S. troops to come to Japan's aid only when a contingency should occur?