US Military Must Not Be Allowed To Hide Source of PFAS Contamination
We cannot turn a blind eye to the blatant attitude of putting consideration for the U.S. military ahead of the health of citizens. We request a clear explanation from the government.
In Okinawa Prefecture, harmful organic fluorine compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been detected in the areas around the U.S. military’s Kadena Air Base and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, among other places. Regarding the source of the pollution, it has come to light that the U.S. side had replied to the Japanese government that it was “strongly presumed” to have come from the bases.
The Ministry of Defense has not actually announced this officially. It only announced in December 2025 that the prefecture had requested entry onto the bases to pinpoint the pollution source, but that the U.S. had denied the petition. This is such a dishonest response.
PFAS have the special quality that they repel water and oil, and they have been used in fire extinguishing agents and food packaging. They have been identified as carcinogens, and have become a water pollution problem throughout all of Japan.
About 10 years ago, in Okinawa, high concentrations of PFAS were detected in rivers and groundwater that feed the Chatan water purification plant, which supplies tap water to 450,000 people near Kadena Air Base, bringing the problem to light. The prefecture placed restraints on water intake from the contaminated source and installed a PFAS adsorption facility.
In the areas around other bases as well, PFAS concentration levels in excess of national provisional target values have been detected, and there are some residents who have installed their own water filters. Unless the cause is understood, apprehension will likely only increase.
The prefecture has concluded that it is highly likely that the U.S. bases are the source of the contamination, and has been requesting entry onto the bases many times, for 16 years. When the U.S. side has responded to the Japanese government with refusal, it has reportedly conveyed that the bases are a possible contamination source.
What’s hard to understand is that both the U.S. and Japanese governments coordinated on the documentation of the reply to the prefecture, and the portion where it was strongly speculated that the pollution originated from the bases was removed. What is the reason for this concealment?
In a September press conference after the truth came to light, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara avoided an explanation, stating that “Given the nature of the Japan-U.S. relationship, I will refrain from answering questions regarding the details of our exchanges.”
Turning one’s back on the Okinawan people, who are concerned about health hazards and seeking an investigation into the cause, is inexcusable.
We want both the U.S. and Japanese governments to investigate the entire base regions, identify toxic substances and sources of pollution, and promptly take measures to address health risks.
The problem is not limited to just Okinawa. In other places such as Iwakuni (Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Misawa (Aomori Prefecture) as well, high concentrations of PFAS have been detected in the areas surrounding U.S. military bases.
At Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, the government and municipal bodies are entering the base to investigate. The reason for the discrepancy with Okinawa and why an investigation is possible there remains in question.
To begin with, in the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, restrictions on entering bases are a problem.
In October in Naha, Okinawa, a U.S. Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a Japanese woman. Because the suspect was taken into custody outside of the base, the criminal process is proceeding without the stipulations of the SOFA.
The SOFA completely hinders the clarification of problems and incidents caused by U.S. military bases and soldiers. The Japanese people are the ones who suffer the negative consequences. The government should embark on a drastic revision of the SOFA.
In Okinawa Prefecture, harmful organic fluorine compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been detected in the areas around the U.S. military’s Kadena Air Base and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, among other places. Regarding the source of the pollution, it has come to light that the U.S. side had replied to the Japanese government that it was “strongly presumed” to have come from the bases.
The Ministry of Defense has not actually announced this officially. It only announced in December 2025 that the prefecture had requested entry onto the bases to pinpoint the pollution source, but that the U.S. had denied the petition. This is such a dishonest response.
PFAS have the special quality that they repel water and oil, and they have been used in fire extinguishing agents and food packaging. They have been identified as carcinogens, and have become a water pollution problem throughout all of Japan.
About 10 years ago, in Okinawa, high concentrations of PFAS were detected in rivers and groundwater that feed the Chatan water purification plant, which supplies tap water to 450,000 people near Kadena Air Base, bringing the problem to light. The prefecture placed restraints on water intake from the contaminated source and installed a PFAS adsorption facility.
In the areas around other bases as well, PFAS concentration levels in excess of national provisional target values have been detected, and there are some residents who have installed their own water filters. Unless the cause is understood, apprehension will likely only increase.
The prefecture has concluded that it is highly likely that the U.S. bases are the source of the contamination, and has been requesting entry onto the bases many times, for 16 years. When the U.S. side has responded to the Japanese government with refusal, it has reportedly conveyed that the bases are a possible contamination source.
What’s hard to understand is that both the U.S. and Japanese governments coordinated on the documentation of the reply to the prefecture, and the portion where it was strongly speculated that the pollution originated from the bases was removed. What is the reason for this concealment?
In a September press conference after the truth came to light, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara avoided an explanation, stating that “Given the nature of the Japan-U.S. relationship, I will refrain from answering questions regarding the details of our exchanges.”
Turning one’s back on the Okinawan people, who are concerned about health hazards and seeking an investigation into the cause, is inexcusable.
We want both the U.S. and Japanese governments to investigate the entire base regions, identify toxic substances and sources of pollution, and promptly take measures to address health risks.
The problem is not limited to just Okinawa. In other places such as Iwakuni (Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Misawa (Aomori Prefecture) as well, high concentrations of PFAS have been detected in the areas surrounding U.S. military bases.
At Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, the government and municipal bodies are entering the base to investigate. The reason for the discrepancy with Okinawa and why an investigation is possible there remains in question.
To begin with, in the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, restrictions on entering bases are a problem.
In October in Naha, Okinawa, a U.S. Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a Japanese woman. Because the suspect was taken into custody outside of the base, the criminal process is proceeding without the stipulations of the SOFA.
The SOFA completely hinders the clarification of problems and incidents caused by U.S. military bases and soldiers. The Japanese people are the ones who suffer the negative consequences. The government should embark on a drastic revision of the SOFA.
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