480 file suit over Iwakuni base noise, seeking Y540 mil in damages

Monday 23rd March, 12:47 PM JST

YAMAGUCHI —

About 480 people living near the U.S. Marine Corps’ Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture filed a damages suit Monday against the Japanese government, seeking some 540 million yen in compensation for noise from U.S. military aircraft as well as a ban on some of their flights. A series of lawsuits have been filed over aircraft noise around U.S. military bases in Japan, such as the Atsugi base in Kanagawa Prefecture and the Kadena base in Okinawa Prefecture, but it is the first such case involving the Iwakuni base.

The 476 plaintiffs, who filed the lawsuit with the Yamaguchi District Court’s Iwakuni branch, live in an area where the noise level as measured by an international environmental index for airplane noise exceeds the standard for a residential area. The noise registers 75 or higher on the Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level index. Under the Japanese government’s environmental standards, the noise level should be at 70 or lower in residential areas and at 75 or lower in commercial and industrial districts.

Besides seeking compensation for noise pollution, the plaintiffs are calling for U.S. military aircraft and Japanese Self-Defense Forces planes to stop such activities as nighttime takeoffs and landings and circling above the urban district area, according to the written complaint. The complaint also demands the cancellation of a planned relocation of U.S. carrier-borne fighter jets to Iwakuni from the Atsugi base, located in a densely populated area outside of Tokyo.

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11 Comments

davidcho at 01:04 PM JST - 23rd March

Are u joking...what kind of damages????
Samuraiiki at 01:13 PM JST - 23rd March

Might have to move next to a base and join the plaintiffs so I can get my cut. Why do not they sue the civilian airports too?
davidcho at 01:22 PM JST - 23rd March

Why do not they sue the civilian airports too? GREAT QUESTION!
whitepocky at 01:30 PM JST - 23rd March

Under the Japanese government’s environmental standards, the noise level should be at 70 or lower in residential areas and at 75 or lower in commercial and industrial districts.

Had no idea noise pollution levels were written in law. I thought it was a free for all in this country. Those planes in Atsugi are criminally loud. I get sick of them whenever I visit the wife's grandma. I have every sympathy with the residents and hope justice is served.
soldave at 01:59 PM JST - 23rd March

Am surprirsed no suits like this have been placed against JSDF bases, a few of which I believe are around residential areas.
Nessie at 02:39 PM JST - 23rd March

Venezuela is not a Banana Republic, it is a major supllier of oil to the USA and many other countries

So it's a banana republic with oil.
ejh16 at 05:53 PM JST - 23rd March

The American military serves no purpose in Japan (other than their own selfish ones). The Americans, contrary to what they like say, are not here to protect Japan. Also, Japan does not need protection. Stop raping and assaulting Japanese citizens, stop deafening us with your damn jets, and go home.

http://theunpeople.blogspot.com/
PaulieWalnuts at 07:36 PM JST - 23rd March

ejh16, get a grip.
winniebhoy at 09:35 PM JST - 23rd March

im with ya ejh16 get the yank army out
Belesarius at 07:34 AM JST - 24th March

ejh16, winniebhoy,

Hey yall, as to this i could see why it could annoy but i live near fort campbell army base. sure its load at times but you get used to it. Anyways you could just move.

But like i was saying to those two. One that base by its very existence provides jobs for many many ppl and boost the economy in the area.

The reason for the US bases in japan are many ppl seem to think we want world domination, realy we dont...but sence some countries seem to think they have the right to tell us what to do we need a good military. Its all about power projection.

But yea a f18 is load its cool though.. :D
Youdontknow at 05:22 PM JST - 24th March

I live near Iwakuni, and believe me, the noise is really not that bad. People still choose to live there and are still building new houses in the area, so it's not like they don't know what they're moving to! And the base pays locals an average $500 per year for the 'inconvenience'. Each of these folks who agree to it, have no basis for claiming further.

ejh16 - grow up! If the US military was not in Japan, it would be a mere matter of time before Korea and China took things into their own hands. Sorry, did I say 'grow up'? I meant 'Get a clue'!