Japanese worry over Osprey safety after fatal Hawaii crash

Big deal. The accident as with most aircraft crashes was on landing on a US Base, so how does that effect Okinawa. They just want an excuse to fight the re-alignment that the Japanese government wanted. Okinawa wanted the base for an airport but don't want the re-alignment. I think it is a base idea to use the base as an airport but idiots are idiots.

The accident as with most aircraft crashes was on landing on a US Base, so how does that effect Okinawa.

It doesn't. Okinawa has been around for centuries.

You noticed that only Okinawa Gov. Onaga complain about the crash? Nothing has changed. The Japan SDF is looking at buying close to 20 Ospreys in next five years. The reason is that Japan intends to use the V22 Osprey as the main aircraft it flies off the Hyuga size vessel.

This unfortunate crash is splashed all over the local newspaper's front pages today. The media is doing their best (once again) to over-play the accident, and make it the "top" news story here and fear-monger as usual.

http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/article.php?id=116040

http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-243098-storytopic-111.html

Then we have to mothball the 747, since jAL crashed one in 1985...this is knee-jerk politics at its worst.

Seems the Okinawa politicians have learned greed and avarice from the rest of the dirty politicians in Japan. The current Osprey is at least as safe as helicopters and it out performs them by a large margin.

Onaga also said he planned to demand the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights on the island until the >authorities find out the cause of the latest accident. The U.S. military says the Osprey is safe but Okinawans have worried the aircraft may be prone to crashes.

There's been SEVEN F-15 crashes since 2011, one of them near Okinawa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_F-15_losses

......and yet no one seems intent on shutting down Kadena, or grounding the JASDF F-15J's. Why does everyone have such a hard-on for the Osprey and the Marine Corps in general?

You want to recover some useful land area in Okinawa? Get rid of Kadena's Banyan Tree Golf Course. https://youtu.be/tuLVXRx_EoQ

Get Kawasaki or Mitsubishi HI involved in making parts for them and it will become a patriotic venture and the noise will die down quickly.

"Safe?" this must be some new and unusual definition of the word I am not familiar with.

The Osprey. Isn't that the one they call the WIdowmaker?

That costs $80,000 per hour to keep in the air.

That Japan has ordered 20 of?

I can see the argument a little more clearly now. Maybe Japan doesn't need 17 of these things. Cause if one crashes in the future . . . Oh let's say right over Gotemba (USMC Camp Fuji), inflicting loss of life to 1/2 dozen or so residents, you won't hear the end of it.

Excellent aircraft. Japan needs to stop moaning and get real.

During its testing phase from 1991 to 2000, the accident-prone transport aircraft suffered four crashes resulting in 30 fatalities. Since it became operational in 2007, six other soldiers have been killed while traveling in the aircraft.

The downed Osprey in Hawaii is the second aircraft carrying Marines to have crashed in five days. Nepal excluded the use of the unstable aircraft after it destroyed buildings & raised dust storms during an attempted mission.

Okinawa background: Since 2012, the Okinawan govt. has opposed the US V-22 Osprey low-level testing & training in the prefecture. The US-Jp governments have been forcing preparations to landfill the coral reef & dugong habitat at Henoko -- for a planned offshore V-22 training base. For years, against Okinawan opposition, the 2 govts have forced clear-cutting of prime habitat in Yanbaru, a subtropical rainforest, to build training helipads for the notorious aircraft.

Development history: WWII Germans first invented the tilt-rotor aircraft but abandoned it because they realized the design had insurmountable defects that could not be corrected.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3085795/One-Marine-killed-21-hospitalized-V-22-Osprey-suffers-hard-landing-training-exercise-Hawaii.html

military plane crashes are rare considering the number of flights and compared to car crashes, they usually occur on or near bases and rarely involve civilians.

More to worry from malfunctioning Hondas and Toyotas or speeding taxis or trucks not stopping when children are on the pedestrian crossing, than an Osprey.

I don't get this Osprey hysteria. A helicopter fell down in Pakistan a couple of weeks ago, does anyone here care? Ambulance chopper fell down on a mountain last winter, any calls for bans on flying machines?

Sometimes I wish the people who are posting common sense responses about issues like this would change places with the politicians here in Okinawa. Ahhh to dream.....

Then woken up by the chalk-board nail screeching sound of the Okinawan press....

There were fatal crashes involving several Boeing and Airbus airliners over the past couple of years, are the Okinawans afraid to let any of these planes fly over their island?

Why not worry about drink drivers, mobile phone users whilst driving, non-seatbelt usage and other common sense life saving approaches to the same degree? This irrational fear of one particular aircraft is just a play on 'Poor ol' us' with no ground for logic or sense. All machines can fail but not many do. Find a more comprehensive and mature argument, not this straw fallacy that burns away in the weakest of morning suns.

Excellent aircraft. Japan needs to stop moaning and get real.

Apparently you're not aware of the Japanese government's plans to procure them for the SDF and subsequent public announcements on the news.

Yes, crashes of military or civilian aircraft happen. The more they fly, the potential for crashes increase. In theory, anyway. Pilots gain experience so this comes into play too.

What's not mentioned in this article is whether the cause of the crash was a mechanical fault or something else. A quick look on other sites says it's under investigation so

Dozens of residents in the area rallied over the weekend to oppose the planned Osprey deployment.

Knee jerk reaction by a few panicky neighbours in Yokota <> nationwide protests. There's far more protesters in Okinawa but even there, the Osprey "panic" is just one of the local complaints.

So what will the USA do when one of their ospreys crashes in a built up area of Okinawa? Like the F100 accident that crashed into an Okinawa school. Himajin ah how many ospreys have been built and how many 747s? So what is the accident rate of the osprey per hour of operation? Why do American ospreys hover over Okinawa towns and cities? You understanding hovering low is dangerous for any rotary wing? So why do the Americans do it? risky flight ops with their ospreys over Okinawa.

Why does Okinawa care when this just would harm the U.S. military inside the bases where it would land? Also, the crash was most likely pilot error.. Hard landings like that are more often than not human caused.. And in comparison to other helicopters Id much rather fly in an osprey, those things are built like tanks and have much steadier landings than traditional helicopters.. I hope that when the Ospreys arrive in Okinawa they run flawlessly and the locals can learn to accept the wishes of the Japanese government.

In Nepal, Osprey crash was the infamous news unlike Hawaii. Within a month, both Nepal and Hawaii got Osprey air crashes.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/05/17/marines-identified-nepal-helo-crash/27483577/

Nepal government is banning not only Ospreys but also British Chinhook helicopters too. Unlike Nepal, Okinawa is not desperately needed food and medicine hand outs from other nations.

The difference between civilian and military is military has obligation to take risks for their lives for getting pay checks and perks. They are making living for killing and being killed. They will not not make the big deal about live losses. Civilians do not need to risks like military. They will receive larger pay out if there is commercial air crash disaster unlike servicemen killed in training and operation. Commercial air crashes are less frequent due to high volume of safety measure. Commercial pilots have great respect to civilian lives.

If Nepal authority can ban the Ospreys, why not Okinawa residents and authority demand the air crash investigation before deploying on their homesoil. After all they are human being and needed to be respected and protected by Japanese government. Safety is first before anything else.

@Yuri, they don't hover over towns, they fly over them, sure, but hover? No.

All the same, this is an article to consider:

http://www.wired.com/2011/10/osprey-down/

YuriOtani: "So what will the USA do when one of their ospreys crashes in a built up area of Okinawa? "

IF it happens, they can say, "If you hadn't blocked our move to the new base and kept us here at Futenma, this would not have happened," and you would really only have yourself to blame for location. The real question is, are Okinawans -- the only ones playing up this 'fear' -- afraid of the Osprey in the hands of the Japanese military as well, since, you know, the Japanese government is buying a bunch of the US, or is it just more fear-mongering to try and get rid of the US bases? That's rhetorical.

What is the worst single-aircraft aviation disaster in the history of the world? Japan Airlines Flight 123. Should they therefore ban all JAL flights and similar aircraft as a result? you know, since the people are HONESTLY worried about the craft, and people's safety, and it's not just petty politics. Why not? How about all the helicopters that have been crashed by Japanese pilots searching in the mountains for hikers? Don't ban all similar choppers? Why not?

I really like how some posters distort the facts or ignore them outright. Don't they B.W.?

The Marine aircraft that crashed in Nepal was a helicopter. No Osprey has ever fell out of the sky, all accidents have been on landing or lift off, the majority while the aircraft was undergoing testing. At the Paris Air Show last year, then-program manager Marine Col. Greg Masiello said costs were down to $9,520 an hour. we have had a 28 percent increase in readiness; at the same time we’ve had a 19 percent decrease in maintenance costs, as measured by cost per flight hour,”

I can understand the Okinawa people wanting to have control of what happens on their island, but when they let the politicians and media control the agenda of what is important, it does not solve the real problems on Okinawa. Getting rid of the Americans will not raise the High School test scores, reduce the rate of alcoholism, reduce the divorce rate, reduce the unemployment rate or stem the flow of young people leaving Okinawa for the mainland. Ask yourself, addressing the real problems of Okinawa and it's people will not line the politicians pockets with money, but butting heads with Tokyo over the military bases stands a real chance of getting a "shut up and color" brown envelope that goes directly into some political parties re-election fund after necessary "expenses" are pocketed.

Bertie Wooster:

The Osprey. Isn't that the one they call the WIdowmaker?

Nope. Those were the B-26 Maurader and the F-104 Starfighter.

During its testing phase from 1991 to 2000, the accident-prone transport aircraft suffered four crashes resulting in 30 fatalities. Since it became operational in 2007, six other soldiers have been killed while traveling in the aircraft.

Large casualties can occur with transport aircraft.

Development history: WWII Germans first invented the tilt-rotor aircraft but abandoned it because they realized the design had insurmountable defects that could not be corrected.

Nope, the FA-269 was abandoned when they realised it wasn't possible to produce a prototype before 1947.

@Noble 713

There's been SEVEN F-15 crashes since 2011, one of them near Okinawa.

A rather useless statistic without considering the number of hours of actual flight time and mileage and number of all aircraft in question, as well as the situations of use. Japanese fighters have been scrambled a ton over Chinese military proximity to the Senkakus. The Osprey could not possibly come close to that sort of usage. Yet, the Osprey has plenty of crashes and fatalities despite rather limited use in non-nerve jarring operations. Apples and oranges.

The Osprey even has a history of padded safety reports!

How would the deck of a Hyuga-class carrier/destroyer stand up to a V22 crash like this?

If we are going to have to start speaking Mandarin in Okinawa, it won't be because of a Chinese military takeover if the US goes away. It will be because the China is getting better and better at what we used to be good at - industrial innovation, infrastructure development, education, fighting its own poverty, engaging in constructive world trade, foreign assistance, and NOT stupidly meddling in strategically vital regions in the pretense of promoting their way of life and politics by military force. How much does it cost the US and Japan to keep thousands of warfighters, their highpaid supporting contractors, and their contented families ensconced on Okinawa and elsewhere in Japan? Whatever you guess, you are probably off by a hell of a lot of money that the US should be using for better purposes. Go ahead and "bad" this - the truth can be painful sometimes.

Great post Steve. About two decades ago, they quietly began to prospered in So CA. Now they have very successful businesses throughout he state. For better or worse, China economic might can't be overlooked anymore than it's military.

Strage del Cermis. This says everything you need to know about being occupied by the americans as their "ally". Okinawa people are right.

Alex80: "This says everything you need to know about being occupied by the americans as their "ally". Okinawa people are right."

Wrong. It says a few people are paranoid and using this an excuse to say the US military should leave -- same as you are here; taking an Osprey accident in HAWAII and talking about US 'occupation' in Okinawa.

Living Memory,

The Osprey could not possibly come close to that sort of usage. Yet, the Osprey has plenty of crashes and fatalities despite rather limited use in non-nerve jarring operations. Apples and oranges.

One of the reasons for getting the Osprey was that it was faster than a helicopter, and so could do a mission, come back, and go out again in the time it took a helicopter to get to its destination. Theoretically, it can get twice as much usage as a helicopter during any given time period.

nandakandamanda,

How would the deck of a Hyuga-class carrier/destroyer stand up to a V22 crash like this?

Steel deck - probably ok. Not a ship-loss event. Might need some patching after it got back to port.

gee these morons dont stop, if its not the OSprey itll be the Chinook instead. trying to use a BS stalling tactic wont change the fact Japan will purchase or use a similar aircraft. the base will be relocated the Okinawans will kick up a hissy fit but in the end itll stay in Okinawa whether they like it or not. declaring independance is about the only way there going to stop it. lets see if they have the nads for that

@Living Memory

A rather useless statistic without considering the number of hours of actual flight time and mileage and number of all >aircraft in question, as well as the situations of use.

That would definitely be the most nuanced and scientific approach to judging the safety record. While yes the JASDF F-15s are getting worked hard, the seven losses I mentioned were just the USAF, and only 1 of them was from Kadena. The rest were in domestic US flights or operations in Europe/N. Africa. Unless they were old airframes, the aircraft in those incidents probably haven't been too overworked compared to the Osprey fleet. Also look at the Marine Corps Harrier fleet, another notoriously difficult aircraft to fly (I've known some Harrier pilots). Five of those have crashed since 2010, yet nobody cares....

Japanese worry over Osprey safety after fatal Hawaii crash

Suddenly bringing them to Yokota base doesn't seem like a good idea. Still, it's what Okinawans have put up with for a while, so fairs fair I suppose

Japan will be very stupid for purchasing Ospreys if they have many crashes like Hawaii. it is true US bases have been Okinawa for 70 years and grabbing land as much as they like. However Residents are no longer passive like before.

It is their ancestors land and they have rights to object the Ospreys which will deploy against wishes. Okinawa residents needed to become like IRA . Without the real struggle, it will be enslaved forever. Bring on the guerrilla warfare for independence. it is an only answer for oppressors and puppets.

Voice of Okinawa ill never stop whether pro Base posters like it or not. It is not their land or business.

.

Athletes: "It is not their land or business."

It's not yours, either. It's that of the Japanese government's, and based on Okinawa's thrice-decided relocation it's not the current people's choice, either. As for the IRA rubbish, you'd sooner see Okinawans AGAIN face a war of attrition and slaughter than have to 'put up with' having the US present as a deterrence against China or other forces that would see Okinawa become their territory? I don't think even the most radical of Okinawans would be up for your little personal war, especially since so many claim they want the US bases out "for peace" and "because it makes them a target for war", etc. Utter stupidity.

It's not Americans Okinawans object to, I think Okinawans rather like Americans.

It's not particularly Ospreys, although an aircraft with such an accident prone history taking off and landing in the middle of a densely populated area like Futenma is REALLY not a good idea.

What they object to is the huge military bases taking up much needed space. Each time land gets given back the income soars. A couple of weeks ago, the Rycom Mall was opened. They had 500,000 visitors over a weekend. More than the golf course that used to occupy that space ever saw. Hamby town makes 15 times the income it did when it was a US base and Shintoshin makes more than 20 times.

By being forced to host the US military, Okinawa is losing money big time. The US bases waste space - Kadena particularly is designed in Nevada rather than space-starved Okinawa - and this is objected to by Okinawans.

But above all, I think they just want their land back. To do with as they want.

Is that too much to ask?

you'd sooner see Okinawans AGAIN face a war of attrition and slaughter than have to 'put up with' having the US present as a deterrence against China or other forces that would see Okinawa become their territory?

Neither is necessary. The US has simply to move - not relocate - their bases out of Okinawa

It seems that it's not only Okinawans that don't like the Osprey:

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/your-periodic-reminder-that-the-v-22-is-a-piece-of-junk-db72a8a23ccf

Big deal? Yes. There isn't a reservation for a crash on a certain spot. It is great to see that the Okinawans are standing up for their safety. What will it take to send all this flying junk to the recycle?

For all of the osprey lovers, "The downed Osprey in Hawaii is the second aircraft carrying Marines to have crashed in five days. Nepal excluded the use of the unstable aircraft after it destroyed buildings & raised dust storms during an attempted mission." I feel for the loss of the Marines. They were sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and mothers and fathers. The people of Okinawa like Americans but not their military bases. Second the US military needs to remove the osprey from service and use the money on safety updates to their mainstay aircraft. American Marines deserve better for serving their country.

American Marines deserve better for serving their country.

Yuri. Marines git all the leftovers. The army/navy git all the perks. Marines get the smallest piece of the pie when it comes down to Dept of Defense fiscal expenditures.

But they are trained to do the best they can with "whatever" they have. And expected to accomplish a mission at all costs.

Thank God, Okinawans are not Native Americans.

LoL- in my state, Native Americans are bloody rich$. Perhaps when the bases are gone, Onaga & his henchmen could open a Casino and git bloody rich too¥-

But 1st, Okinawa must gain independence.

Bertie: "It's not particularly Ospreys, although an aircraft with such an accident prone history taking off and landing in the middle of a densely populated area like Futenma is REALLY not a good idea."

Easy solution: relocate them to the base already agreed on nearly twenty years ago, and two more times since including by Okinawan leadership itself. Until then, stop complaining about operations taking place in a densely populated area. That's your choice.

Athletes: "It is not yours or Japanese government land. in theory, it is one of the prefecture."

Wrong again.

"It should be called as Takesihima of US too."

You mean "Dokdo".

"All of the posts from you ended up with fear mongering of China and NK. It should be called as double flipping propaganda."

That doesn't even make any sense.

"You bashed nationalism and war mongering politicians However you biased against Okinawa struggle against military oppression. It is the double standard."

I definitely bash war-mongering and nationalism, and as such bashing your idea that Okinawans should go to war with the US and the Japanese government, which Okinawa belongs to, is not at all a double standard but 100% in line with the same thinking. How is my being against your proposal that Okinawans be like the IRA -- who kill innocents with bombs, by the way -- not being against war-mongering or nationalism? I think maybe you need a dictionary to look up 'double standard'.

"Whether you like it on not, resentments against Tokyo is growing and new generation IRA will become the reality. By the way, Okinawa favorite food is Pork. Not Fish!"

First, again, your idea of the "IRA" in Okinawa is ridiculous. Second, who said anything about fish and what on earth does that have to do with the thread, my, or anyone else's comments?

"Many Residents have Chinese grandpas or great grandpas too. Many will celebrate if there will be real unification as you said."

So, hang on... now you're saying you want Okinawa to become part of China? no more IRA... and seafood... or whatever?

"Irish descendants of US do not mind about speaking Irish and performing Tap dancing. Being Irish citizens will be another reward. it is same as Okinawans."

Okay... so now we're onto tap dancing and being Irish citizens 'of the US' (sic) somewhere in the world.... If you want to tap dance, and then talk about it, feel free by all means, Athletes. You want to talk about getting rid of the Ospreys, don't forget to address the central government that is buying a bunch, since it's fear of the aircraft and not just being anti-American, right? You want to talk about moving the US out of Futemna, hurry up and relocate them to the new base in Okinawa like your nation, and your prefecture, has agreed on.

Smith so you think Okinawa people with Chinese grandparents are "traitors"? Very interesting I have more than a few Chinese in my family tree but do not want to "reunite" with China. Then again the Ryukyu Kingdom was a tributary member not ruled by China. "Irish Americans" are not the same it would be better to compare Okinawa people with Irish living in Ireland or Koreans living in Korea. As for the central government buying the dangerous ospreys it is more brown nosing by Abe and his minions.

noriyosan73 May. 19, 2015 - 11:02PM JST It is great to see that the Okinawans are standing up for their safety.

Most agree that crowded Ginowan is no place for combat helicopters and massive transport planes. But the relocation of the base has been blocked by local opposition to the construction of a replacement facility in a less populated northern area of the island.

Germany never gave up on a on a osprey type aircraft, they built many and even a jet version. Japan had the Kayaba. As for JAL123, a factor was the hard landing a year before that damage the tail and rear bulkhead which needed repair. No one notice that the rear bulkhead was not repaired properly which should have been obvious to any inspect, one row of bolts instead of two. Nothing really wrong with 747's but a reason for replacing them with 787's is fuel savings. New planes use less fuel per passenger.

But if Japan really wants the US to leave and cut loose Japan from all defense agreement. Japan can deal with Russia, China and N. Korea by themselves. If they get attacked, too bad, since they will loose again any of them. It would be good for GM and Ford.....

Athletes the Korean missiles were not a threat to Okinawa. They were a test for a fobs (fractional orbital bombard system). http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Sov-FOBS-Program.html They would come up from the undefended south where there is no ABM coverage. While their satellite achieved orbit it was out of control. Now if they can fix the problems it would be a real threat to USA. Then again perhaps that is the real reason for the American Pac IIIs in Okinawa. So Okinawa bases are being used to defend USA not Okinawa.

I think we all know that for many the complaints about the Osprey are not serious, but mostly a roundabout way to complain about the bases. But that is okay, since Tokyo has been giving Okinawa the runaround for decades over the bases. Its called fighting fire with fire, and base supporters have no right to complain about a taste the same medicine the Okinawans have been force fed for decades.

This ridiculous "aircraft" would not last two minutes coming into a hot LZ. One thing against a bunch of farmers with AK's and RPG's... but a professionally trained army like the russians. Forget it...meat to the slaughter!

Yuri

the Korean missiles were not a threat to Okinawa

North may be not a threat. They has just showed off. South can make the friendly fire with make the unsincere apology later on.

Since 1959 Miyamori Elementary School accident, no one want to take risks on their heads. If Pro Ospery poster children included during the crash, how would they feel? It is double standard and injustice for take risks at your backyard. Not on my backyard! It is an injustice too.

Modern warfare does not need thousands of men, big and small toys. As you posted, single missile attached with MRIVS(Multiple Re-entry Independently Vehicles System), the bases will be wiped out within a few minutes.

What Okinawa needs is missile defence system like Israel.

What Okinawa needs is missile defence system like Israel.

It already has it.

Which also makes the bases rather meaningless.

Bertie,

It already has it.

Really? Please expand.

Which also makes the bases rather meaningless.

Not at all. Missile defenses try to intercept incoming missiles - that's all. Unless you have the means to project power, which bases can help with, you can't go after the missile launchers and halt the threat.

YuriOtani: "mith so you think Okinawa people with Chinese grandparents are "traitors"? Very interesting I have more than a few Chinese in my family tree but do not want to "reunite" with China."

Where did I say that?

"Then again the Ryukyu Kingdom was a tributary member not ruled by China. "Irish Americans" are not the same it would be better to compare Okinawa people with Irish living in Ireland or Koreans living in Korea."

It was Athletes that brought up the whole "let's be the IRA and the Irish", not me. I talked about how irrelevant and silly his comparison and suggestions were.

Mods: Why does my comment keep getting removed with no notification of it? If it's 'off topic', then surely so are those that I DIRECTLY address. If it's insensitive, how? All I've said is that the poster in question is not quoting me correctly and that I was addressing another's post. Why are my posts being removed but the posts they address allowed to stay up? As it is I cannot defend myself that I never said Chinese descendants are traitors and the person suggesting I am is allowed to keep her comment on saying as such.

It already has it.

Yup, American made and maintained. But as noted it's not just that which defends Japan. Oh and in case you forgot the prefecture's name is Okinawa, and it's a part of the country of Japan, and the population here considers themselves Japanese citizens.

You often seem to conveniently forget these facts and think you are living back in the 1700's Bertie "Nathan Algren" Wooster.

If Ospreys are so safe and air worthy, Nepal government will not ban for these recyclable junk. Non locals have no moral ground for lecturing Residents concern about safety.

Although the thread is residents concern about safety and environment, Yubaru and Smith Japan twisted their way as other poster posts are inferior and irrelevant. Yubaru even did not read other post He rushed to conclude with his superior wisdom.

Smith is first one to bring up the fear of China and NK will cause the unthinkable disaster over Okinawa. He did not realize that many are fans of China economic success.

As a non die hard fan of base or Osprey, I made it crystal clear about China is some Okinawans ancestors birth place. They have no problem about being unified with China. If he does not want to see the words of Ireland and Irish descendants of US, he better not mention about China and NK.

That thread is not relevant with China and NK invasion. It is about Ospreys deployment, unwelcoming locals and safety investigation. I guess Smith was on wrong thread.

Unlike Nepal government, Okinawan authority have no control over Osprey s deployment over their land. If the car buyer concern about the safety reason, there will be safety investigation and product recall actions will be followed. For that case, Japanese authority is helpless and sandwiched between local opposition and not offending over seller. In the normal daily trade, buyer is demanding, curious and pushy. However this buyer is under mercy of seller of Ospreys.

It is not fair trading. It is not equal justice and inhumane. Forcing locals to bear the burden of deployment and taking risks for potential accidents is nothing different from Kamikaze mission.

it's a part of the country of Japan

Until 1972, it was part of the country of the US of A. Guam, American Samoa, American Virgin Islands and Okinawa are under US occupation. They have not included in the map. However they are totally under control of US. It is unofficial territory.

population here considers themselves Japanese citizens.

However they are second class Japanese citizens and being oppressed, robbed their land and bullied. For example one patient went to hospital for treatment for sometimes. Sadly when he came back to his house, it was no longer on the ground and being demolished for US base facility. He has been robbed by authority without notice.

Nepal citizens are poor, broke and hungry. However they are not being treated badly like Okinawa residents. Better poor, broke and hungry rather than being slaves under oppression and injustices.

Okinawa has been the chopping board since WWII. It has badly wounded, sacrificed and humiliated. Sadly they have no any control over land and environment issue. It will be better not being part of Japan under US occupation.