It has been learned that Mayor Shunsuke Yaita of Nishinoomote City has requested the Ministry of Defense not to approve the planned late-night training of U.S. military forces on Mageshima Island in Nishinoomote City, Kagoshima Prefecture.

This was revealed at the Nishinoomote City Council’s Special Committee on Mageshima Countermeasures held on June 24th.

Plans are afoot to relocate takeoff and landing training for US military carrier-based aircraft to Mageshima Island in Nishinoomote City.

The training is scheduled to continue until 3 a.m., but during discussions with the Ministry of Defense on June 14, Yaita Mayor requested that training not be allowed into the early hours of the morning.

This is the first time that Yaita Mayor, who has yet to make clear whether he supports or opposes the plan, has made a request regarding training hours.

In response to the request, the Ministry of Defense merely stated, “We will convey to the U.S. military that there are concerns among local residents about night flights and will request that they minimize the impact.”