On October 23, joint military exercises between the United States and Japan commenced on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture. That afternoon, local residents gathered to protest outside the Japan Self-Defense Forces’ base, demanding an immediate halt to the exercises.
According to reports, protesters delivered a petition to the commander of the Self-Defense Forces on Ishigaki and the U.S. forces stationed in Japan. In their petition, the local community expressed their opposition to the idea of turning Ishigaki Island into a battlefield and to the normalization of U.S.-Japan joint exercises. They voiced their dissatisfaction over the governments’ disregard for residents’ opinions in proceeding with the drills.
During the protest, demonstrators raised poignant questions, stating, “Why are missiles and weapons being brought to an island filled with song and dance while preparations for war are being rushed? Whose war is this really for?” The crowd then chanted slogans such as “No to U.S.-Japan joint exercises,” “Leave the Ospreys out,” and “Don’t ignore the existence of island residents,” as they called for an immediate cessation of the military drills.
