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Press Releases

Extension of Measures to Address Spread of COVID-19
January 21, 2022 — Due to the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases throughout Japan, and in the interest of maintaining high levels of mission readiness necessary for deterrence and fulfillment of Treaty obligations... MORE

U.S.-Japan Joint Committee Statement on Measures to Address the Spread of COVID-19
January 9, 2022 — The United States and Japan recognize and take seriously the severity of the rising number of COVID-19 cases throughout Japan. U.S. Forces, Japan (USFJ) and the Government of Japan (GOJ) are working... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan Increases to Health Protection Bravo
January 5, 2022 — Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases at US installations and throughout Japan, Commander, United States Forces Japan has made the decision to raise the Health Protection Condition level from... MORE

Joint Press Release: Response to the issue on wastewater containing PFOS/PFOA at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
September 17, 2021 — The Government of Japan (GOJ) and the U. S. Government (USG) have been in discussion on the issue concerning the wastewater containing PFOS/PFOA at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, including... MORE

Lt. Gen. Rupp Takes Command of U.S. Military in Japan
August 27, 2021 — U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky N. Rupp assumed command of United States Forces Japan and 5th Air Force from Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Schneider here, Aug. 27.U.S. Navy Adm. John Aquilino, commander, U.S... MORE

Joint Press Release: United States Forces Japan’s effort to vaccinate local employees to combat COVID-19
June 10, 2021 — As USFJ has made great progress vaccinating its personnel, the GOJ and USFJ concurred, following bilateral consultations, including through the Joint Committee framework, that USFJ will start administering vaccine doses to local employees who wish to be vaccinated by USFJ... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan welcomed New Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo visit, Oct 8
October 7, 2020 — United States Forces Japan Office of Public Affairs provides the following readout from today’s meeting at Headquarters U.S Forces Japan between Defense Minister KISHI Nobuo and Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider. Defense Minister Kishi today met with Lt. Gen. Schneider in advance of his visit to the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Defense Command, also at Yokota Air Base. ... MORE

MCAS Iwakuni Statement: Family Failed to Abide by COVID-19 Policy
August 28, 2020 — Today, August 28, MCAS Iwakuni has debarred a family of four who failed to abide by the Japanese Quarantine Act, COVID-19 quarantine procedures and USFJ and MCAS Iwakuni orders. This debarment follows a misconduct hearing that took place on August 7... MORE

Defense Minister Taro Kono visits ADC, HQ USFJ at Yokota AB
August 22, 2020 — United States Forces Japan Office of Public Affairs provides the following readout from today’s office call at U.S Forces Japan Headquarters between Defense Minister Taro Kono and Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider: Defense Minister Kono today met with Lt. Gen. Schneider following his visit to the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Defense Command, also at Yokota Air Base... MORE

Recap from USFJ Press Conference
July 31, 2020 — The commander of United States Forces, Japan, Lt Gen Kevin B. Schneider, held the first-ever USFJ virtual press conference on July 29. This conference addressed USFJ’s on-going efforts to combat COVID-19 in Japan as well as security issues in the Indo-Pacific Region. The full conference can be viewed on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System here: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/761437/us-forces-japan-virtual-press-conference ... MORE

US-Japan Joint Statement on COVID-19
July 29, 2020 — The Government of Japan (GOJ) and United States Forces Japan (USFJ) have worked closely in our joint effort to combat COVID-19. The GOJ and USFJ are seriously concerned by the global pandemic and challenges posed to the health of the Japanese community as well as the personnel of USFJ. In recognition of the challenges posed by this pandemic, Lieutenant General Schneider, Commander of USFJ, has maintained the Public Health Emergency for USFJ since April. USFJ has implemented comprehensive and rigorous health protection policies, which are consistent with measures taken by the GOJ to combat COVID-19 and to alleviate local concern. Every time there are positive cases among USFJ personnel, both sides share necessary information between the respective health authorities and notify the local governments concerned. Both sides will continue to work together to ensure that such exchange of information will be done as expeditiously as possible... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan Directs Post-ROM COVID Testing for SOFA Members
July 24, 2020 — Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – To reduce the spread of COVID-19 cases among U.S. personnel following international travel, the Commander of U.S. Forces Japan yesterday directed all Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) personnel to undergo a COVID-19 exit test prior to release from the mandatory 14-day restriction of movement (ROM). The ROM policy applies to all SOFA-status personnel including military, civilians, families, and contractors, upon arrival in Japan... MORE

Readout of Visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni by Defense Minister Taro Kono
June 20, 2020 — United States Forces Japan Office of Public Affairs provides the following readout from today’s visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni by Minister of Defense Taro Kono: U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (MCASI) hosted Defense Minister Taro Kono today during a visit to the Yamaguchi　prefecture. USFJ Deputy Commander, Brig. Gen. James Wellons, and MCASI Commander, Col. Lance Lewis, both U.S. Marine Corps officers, met the Minister and briefed him on a number of bilateral issues. ... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan commander directs transition to HPCON Bravo
June 11, 2020 — Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – The U.S. Forces Japan Commander has directed a transition to Health Protection Condition Bravo throughout Japan effective June 12, 2020 at 1200. Installation and base... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan extends Japan-wide public health emergency
May 12, 2020 — Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – The commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, extended the public health emergency (PHE) today for all of Japan. This order extends the previous Japan-wide PHE... MORE

Japanese officials work with U.S. Marines at MCAS Futenma
April 24, 2020 — Engineers with the U.S. Marine Corps conducted soil scraping operations at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma on April 24, to remove probable contaminants next to an underground storage tank after firefighting foam spilled on April 10. The scraping is designed to be deep enough to achieve a high degree of certainty that all possible contaminants from the spill are recovered. The spill happened when an aircraft hangar fire suppression system accidentally triggered, releasing a mixture of approximately 1,200 gallons of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and 40,000 gallons of water. This was followed by an additional 20,000 gallons of water. About 22,000 gallons of the mixture was captured on base through U.S. Marine Corps containment systems and response efforts, while the rest escaped the base. An investigation into the cause of this incident is ongoing... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan declares Japan-wide public health emergency
April 15, 2020 — Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – The commander of U.S. Forces Japan declared a public health emergency for all of Japan, Apr. 15, 2020. This order expanded the previous declaration, which included only the Kanto Plain region. ... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan declares public health emergency for the Kanto Plains region
April 6, 2020 — The U.S. Forces Japan commander announced a Public Health Emergency for the Kanto Plains region, Apr. 6, 2020... MORE

U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) SOFA Member Confirmed with COVID-19
March 26, 2020 — An active duty member assigned to Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) has tested positive for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)... MORE

Update, February 26, 2020: U.S. Forces, Japan Elevates Health Protection Condition and Restricts Non-Essential Travel to the Republic of Korea
February 25, 2020 — U.S. Forces, Japan Elevates Health Protection Condition and Restricts Non-Essential Travel to the Republic of KoreaFebruary 26, 2020Yokota Air Base, Tokyo – The Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan today... MORE

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