Yokota Air Base @ Tama (western Tokyo): August 22, 2010

There are several U.S. bases in and around Tokyo. Famous ones include Yokota Air Base (western Tokyo), Atsugi’s US Navel Air Facility (Kanagawa), Yokosuka Navy Base (Kanagawa Prefecture) and Camp Zama.

I visited Yokota Air Force Base today. They held Japanese-American Friendship Festival on 21 and 22 of August and Japanese people could enter the base during the event. It was my first visit into a U.S. base in Japan.

The base is large. There is 3300 meter runway in it. There are schools, hospitals, a radio station and many other facilities in addition to military facilities. The soldiers as well as their families live there. (Total population is reported about 16,000).

There were many stalls (of drinks, foods, T shirts, caps etc.). They had music concerts and basket ball competitions. A playfield was set for children. A mini train-shape vehicle was running and the soldiers were shooting water pistols (to provide small showers to visitors).

There were thousand of visitors in the base. Tens of temporary toilets were set.

Various aircrafts were displayed. They included F22 fighter aircraft (stealth), other fighters, cargo aircrafts, and helicopters.

Many of the visitors (both Japanese and Americans) looked to be fanatics.They were taking coutless number of pictures.

Planes flow over the visitors. F18s’ flights were so fast. Japanese Self Defense Force also joined the flight (They also use the base with U.S. Air Force).

The attitude of the soldier and other staff of the base seemed to be very friendly. The U.S. government’s policy to keep good relations with Japanese people was well reflected.

It is also worthy to note that the base’s commander banned to screen “The Cove”, an controversial movie on whale catching, in the base.

Map: Yokota Air Base