U.S. Kadena Air Base
By Yukinao Chinen
Tokyo – The Japanese government is planning to enact a bill with the current Diet that would further restrict the sale of land around facilities that are important for security. They confirmed the outline for this bill on March 5. If the bill is enacted, any land within one kilometer of U.S. military or Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) installations will be designated as “supervised areas,” and the personal information and land utilization data of owners will be reviewed, and if it is determined that it “impedes the function of the installation,” they will order a suspension of its use. Some within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have voiced concerns over the restriction of private rights as well as economic impacts including land prices. In Okinawa, where many of the bases are concentrated, there is a chance that the restricted area could expand considerably.