Part II Japan’s Security and Defense Policy and the Japan-U.S. Alliance Section 4 Stationing of the U.S. Forces in Japan Realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan is extremely (MOD) will advance the U.S. Forces realignment and important in mitigating the impact on local communities, other initiatives while making continuous efforts to gain such as those in Okinawa, while maintaining the deterrence the understanding and cooperation of local communities capabilities of the U.S. Forces. The Ministry of Defense accommodating USFJ facilities and areas. 1 Stationing of the U.S. Forces in Japan 1 Signifi cance of the Presence of U.S. Forces As mentioned in Part II, Chapter 3, Section 1-1, the U.S. in Japan Forces in Japan serve as deterrence against aggression towards Japan. Further, the realization of a stable U.S. For the Japan-U.S. Alliance, based on the Japan-U.S. military presence is necessary for a swift Japan-U.S. joint Security Arrangements, to adequately function as a response based on Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty deterrence that contributes to Japan’s defense as well as in the event of an armed attack on Japan. Additionally, the peace and stability in the Asia-Paci c region, it is necessary actions of the U.S. Forces in Japan in the defense of Japan to secure the presence of the U.S. military in Japan, and to will be assisted by the timely reinforcement of other U.S. maintain a posture in Japan and the surrounding areas in Forces, and the U.S. Forces in Japan will serve as the basis peacetime that enables the U.S. Forces in Japan to respond of such support. swiftly and expeditiously to emergencies. In order for the U.S. Forces in Japan to carry out the For this purpose, based on the Japan-U.S. Security abovementioned role, it is necessary that all the services of Treaty, Japan allows the stationing of the U.S. Forces in the U.S. Forces, including those in Japan, are functionally Chapter Japan, which is a core part of the Japan-U.S. Security integrated. For instance, the U.S. Forces hold a primarily Arrangements. offensive power as a “spear” when responding to armed 3 See Fig. II-3-4-1 (Deployment Map of the U.S. Forces in Japan) aggression to Japan in cooperation with the SDF. When Strengthening of the Japan-U.S. Alliance Strengthening of the Japan-U.S. Fig. II-3-4-1 Deployment Map of the U.S. Forces in Japan Misawa Kyogamisaki Shariki U.S. Air Force: 35th Fighter Wing, F-16 fighters U.S. Army: TPY-2 (so-called U.S. Army: TPY-2 (so-called X-Band Radar System) U.S. Navy: P-3C antisubmarine patrol aircraft and others X-Band Radar System) Atsugi Yokota U.S. Navy: Headquarters, U.S. Forces, Japan F/A-18 strike fighters and others U.S. Air Force: Iwakuni (Carrier-based aircraft) Headquarters, Fifth Air Force Shariki U.S. Marine Corps: Misawa 374th Airlift Wing Marine Aircraft Group 12 C-130 transport aircraft F/A-18 strike fighter C-12 transport aircraft AV-8 attackers UH-1 helicopters and others EA-6 electronic warfare aircraft Plan to deploy CV22 Osprey C-12 transport aircraft Zama KC-130 tankers and others Headquarters, U.S. Army, Japan Sasebo U.S. Army: 1st Corps (Forward) Yokota Kyogamisaki U.S. Navy: Fleet Activities Sasebo Atsugi Yokosuka Amphibious assault ships Iwakuni Yokosuka Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan Minesweeping ships Sasebo U.S. Navy: Fleet Activities Yokosuka Transport ships Aircraft carrier Cruisers Torii U.S. Marine Corps facilities and areas such as Camp Courtney Destroyers Amphibious command ship U.S. Army: 1st Battalion, 1st Special U.S. Marine Corps: 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force HQ Forces Group (Airborne)/10th Support Group Kadena Schwab U.S. Air Force: 18th Wing U.S. Marine Corps: F-15 fighters Futenma 4th Marine Regiment (infantry) KC-135 tankers U.S. Marine Corps: HH-60 helicopters Marine Aircraft Group 36 E-3 airborne warning and control system Hansen CH-53 helicopters (AWACS) aircraft White Beach Area AH-1 helicopters U.S. Marine Corps: U.S. Navy: P-3C, P-8A patrol aircraft and others UH-1 helicopters U.S. Navy: 12th Marine Regiment (artillery) U.S. Army: 1-1 Air Defense Artillery MV-22 Osprey and others Port facility, POL depot 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) 193 DEFENSE OF JAPAN 2015 Stationing of the U.S. Forces in Japan Section 4 the U.S. Forces function as an offensive power, it can departments on base, and sales staff at welfare/recreational be expected that the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marines facilities. They perform functions essential for the smooth stationed in Japan work in an integrated manner to fully operations of the USFJ, and support its activities. exert their functions. The Government of Japan hires these employees in In addition, while Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security accordance with the provisions of the SOFA. The MOD Treaty stipulates the obligation of the United States to supports the stationing of the U.S. Forces in Japan by defend Japan, Article 6 allows for the use by the United performing administrative work for personnel management, States of facilities and areas in Japan for maintaining the payment of wages, health care, and welfare, etc. security of Japan and international peace and security in the Far East, and overall Japan-U.S. obligations are kept 3 Host Nation Support (HNS) in balance. See Part II, Chapter 3, Section 1-1 (Maintenance of Japan’s Peace and HNS plays an important role to ensure the smooth and Security) effective implementation of the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements. Due to soaring prices and wages in Japan 2 Measures to Ensure the Smooth Stationing of since the mid-1970s, and changes in the international the U.S. Forces in Japan economy, the Government of Japan began to bear labor costs such as welfare costs in FY1978. Then in FY1979, The Status of Forces Agreement1 (SOFA) stipulates Japan began to bear the Facilities Improvement Program matters pertaining to USFJ facilities and areas and the (FIP) respectively. status of the U.S. Forces in Japan, including provisions Furthermore, as labor costs soared due to changes of facilities and areas for use by the U.S. Forces (USFJ in economic conditions that affected both countries, the facilities and areas), and satisfying the labor requirements employment stability of the employees was adversely of the U.S. Forces in Japan. in uenced, and there was even concern that it would affect Chapter the activities of the U.S. Forces in Japan. Therefore in 1987 (1) Provision of USFJ Facilities and Areas the governments of Japan and the United States agreed on Japan provides USFJ facilities and areas for the U.S. Forces a special measure in Article 24 of the SOFA (the Special 3 under the provisions of the SOFA, in accordance with Measures Agreement)4 as a provisional measure for an agreements reached through the Joint Committee between exception to the cost principle in the SOFA. the governments of Japan and the United States. Based on this agreement, the Government of Japan Strengthening of the Japan-U.S. Alliance Strengthening of the Japan-U.S. The Government of Japan has entered into agreements started to bear labor costs of eight categories such as the and concluded lease contracts with owners of private and adjustment allowance (currently replaced by the regional public lands on which these facilities and areas exist in allowance). As the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) order to ensure the stable use of USFJ facilities and areas. was revised later on, the costs borne by the Government of However, should the Government be unable to obtain Japan expanded to cover labor costs for base pay, etc., and the approval of landowners, it will acquire title under the utilities costs from FY1991. The nancial responsibility of Act on Special Measures for USFJ Land Release2, while the Japanese Government was further expanded to cover compensating the landowners for any loss they may have training relocation costs from FY1996. suffered in the process3. Japan has been reviewing HNS with careful consideration to its own dif cult nancial situation. The (2) Satisfying Labor Requirements of the USFJ amount of Japan’s HNS budget peaked in FY1999 (annual The USFJ require manpower (labor) to maintain its forces, expenditure base), and has since been declining. and the SOFA stipulates that the requirements of the USFJ According to the comprehensive review conducted in shall be satis ed with the assistance of the Government 2010, the Japanese and U.S. Governments agreed that the of Japan. overall expense borne by Japan to support the stationing As of the end of FY2014, approximately 25,200 USFJ of the U.S. Forces in Japan during the period in which the local employees (hereinafter referred to as the “employees”) SMA is in effect (for ve years from FY2011 to FY2015), work at USFJ facilities and areas throughout Japan, working was determined to be maintained at the same level as FY as of ce workers at headquarters, engineers at maintenance/ 2010 (approximately 188.1 billion yen). supply facilities, members of security guards and re 1 The offi cial title is the Agreement Under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the United States of America, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan.