MOD Approves Joint Use of Fuchu Base and Kadena Ammunition Depot

The Ministry of Defense, in Ministry of Defense Notice No. 247 dated October 1, 2026, announced that it decided on September 29, 2026, regarding the facilities and areas for which the United States of America is permitted use—including joint use, additional provision, and new provision—based on Article II of 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 (Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement). The notice was promulgated in the name of Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi, and the targets extend to Ground and Air Self-Defense Force facilities nationwide, including Fuchu Air Base, Narashino Training Area, the Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, and Hofu North Airfield.

The notice explicitly states that a portion of the provided facilities shall be provided as facilities and areas to which Article II, Paragraph 4(b) of the Status of Forces Agreement applies, and that the relevant provisions of the Status of Forces Agreement shall apply during the period of provision. The period of use is set between October 1 and October 31, 2026, and all are accompanied by “an additional period for the deployment and withdrawal of training as necessary.”

Training Facilities in Okinawa Determined for Joint Use

• Kadena Ammunition Storage Area (Okinawa City, Kadena Town, Nakagami District, Yomitan Village): National land approx. 24,000 square meters, public land approx. 91,000 square meters, private land approx. 46,000 square meters. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Kadena Air Base (Okinawa City, Kadena Town, Nakagami District, Chatan Town): National land approx. 7,900 square meters, public land approx. 720 square meters, private land approx. 76,000 square meters, national buildings 10,000 square meters. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Kadena Air Base (Separately listed portion): National land approx. 53,000 square meters, public land approx. 650 square meters, private land approx. 1,734,000 square meters, national buildings 24,000 square meters, parking aprons, etc. Period of use: October 1 to October 31.
• Torishima Shooting and Bombing Range (Kumejima Town, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture): Public land approx. 39,000 square meters, airspace approx. 269,250,000 square meters. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Desunajima Shooting and Bombing Range (Tonaki Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture): Public land approx. 245,000 square meters, airspace approx. 43,080,000 square meters. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.

JSDF Facilities in Honshu and Other Regions to be Additionally Provided

• Fuchu Air Base (Fuchu City, JASDF): Approx. 5,100 square meters of national land, gates, etc. Period of use: October 16 to October 29.
• Narashino Training Area (Funabashi City, Yachiyo City, JGSDF Narashino Training Area and Narashino Camp): Approx. 1,239,000 square meters of national land, approx. 12,000 square meters of buildings, water supply, etc. Period of use: October 22 to October 29.
• Asaka Camp (Asaka City, Wako City, Nerima Ward, Tokyo, JGSDF): Approx. 400 square meters of national land, approx. 9,900 square meters of buildings, water supply, etc. Period of use: October 1 to October 29.
• Komatsu Airfield (Kyotango City, JASDF Kyogamisaki Sub-base): Approx. 8,500 square meters of national land, approx. 2,500 square meters of buildings, water supply, etc. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Tsukisaki Airfield (Kasuga City, JASDF Kasuga Base): Approx. 20 square meters of national buildings. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Oyano-hara/Kirishima Training Area (Ebino City, JGSDF Ebino Kirishima Central Training Area): Approx. 349,000 square meters of national land, approx. 4,200 square meters of buildings, gates, etc. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Kengun Camp (Kumamoto City, JGSDF Kengun Camp): Approx. 18,000 square meters of national land, approx. 8,700 square meters of buildings, water supply, etc. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.
• Kengun Camp (Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District, Mashiki Town, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture, JGSDF Koyuhara Sub-camp): Approx. 35,000 square meters of national land, approx. 5,000 square meters of buildings, water supply, etc. Period of use: October 19 to October 29.

Hofu North Airfield to be Newly Provided

Hofu North Airfield (Hofu City, JASDF Hofu North Base) is the only new provision this time, with approx. 1,000 square meters of national land and structures such as water supply newly provided as training facilities. The period of use is from October 19 to October 30, with additional periods established as necessary.

The current decision sees a concentration of use between October 19 and October 29. In Okinawa Prefecture, extensive areas including public and private land at the Kadena Ammunition Depot district, Kadena Air Base, Torishima Range, and Desuna-jima Range will be subject to joint use. Facilities in close proximity to residential areas, such as Fuchu Air Base, Narashino Training Area, Asaka Camp, and Hofu North Airfield, are also included, making the response of local governments and explanations to residents a focal point.

Official Sources

• Ministry of Defense Notice No. 247 (Promulgated October 1, 2026, Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi): Decision on joint use, additional provision, and new provision based on Article II of the Status of Forces Agreement (Decided September 29, 2026).
• Published in the Official Gazette Extra Edition (Thursday, October 1, 2026).