Part V Case Studies, 42 The Japan Experience with Visiting Forces—An Evolving Perspective

Subject(s):

Military assistance — Occupation — Treaty provisions — Military matters — Peace keeping

This chapter considers Japan’s experience with visiting forces. Unlike the NATO experience in Europe, the United States and Japan had very different backgrounds and cultures. The long-term stationing of US forces in Japan is remarkable because despite the circumstances under which it began, it grew into a partnership of allies and equals. The US-Japan Security Treaty and its successor, and the agreements thereunder regarding the status of forces, as main instruments of the law of visiting forces in Japan have been utilized flexibly to meet the defence and security needs of Japan and the security needs of the United States from the standpoint of fulfilling its regional commitments and its global strategy. However, the application of these treaties and agreements has been influenced not only by military convenience, but also by the interest to achieve harmonization with everyday life of residents in Japan.