Rocket launchers fired near U.S. base at Yokota

Not the Okinawan People since they would shoot at a Marine base at home. Then again violence is not in our nature.

Can someone point out the idiocy of these two statements together? I'm laughing too hard to type...

I just wonder what evidences suspect the ultra leftist groups did it. They no longer exit today. There is no claims of the responsibility and no clear evidences yet that they actually did it.

I disagree that violence is not the nature of Okinawans. Violence was part of the history of war thorn Okinawa.

Oh, Atheletes, I can see you really know a lot about Okinawa. Better you stick to feet and supporters.

maglev101

Guess you're not too good with humor or sarcasm. It was more a dig against the Japanese police than anything else.

The old hit-and-run tactics. What do they expect to gain these days. Childish at the most.

Tiger_In_The_Hermitage

Are they going to blame the Chinese on this one too?

Well, I'm sure the police found "Made in China" on all of the mortar parts they found and based on their ineffectiveness, who else could it be?

@BertieWooster,

So, It's okay for a group of Criminals, we will call them that, to fire Improvised Rocket Launchers at a base where families live, with the intent of harming them, just because they're tired of American Military aggression?

I don't see how that is justifiable in any way.

@posters above:

How do you get China and Okinawa linked to this?

China?? This has nothing to do with China! Japan too had some radical nut cases, here they are trying to scare an American Air Force Base with bottle rockets?? Wow!! So scary!!

I like how some say 'violence is not in our nature..' hahaha uhmm, history doesn't wipe itself out overnight, neither does the fact that this government now is the same as WWII..left wing, right wings, same wings looks like now. Off my islands they say, until they call for help again! Okinawa was 'liberated' not invaded!

More likely right-wing nuts that leftists. I'm surpised no one happened to call about a black van covered with speakers and battle flags seen speeding away from the area around 11:33 that night...

"Washington’s significant security umbrella"

This is costing taxpayers a bundle.

I went to Yokota today to do some shopping. Looks like business as usual, no big deal.

Police discovered two steel pipes, two wires, batteries, and so forth. No damage has been reported so far and police have not found the projectiles.

Sounds like they watched McGuyver.

USNinJapan2 what I am saying is Okinawa people would not go to the mainland to protest at American bases. Second I know of no groups that would do this action. We are a peaceful people! I think they were fireworks like the ones used on Camp Zama before and again, the Okinawa people would NEVER do this act!

Based on a review of the launchers at the site, I'm sure the Japanese Police have confirmed they are similar if not exactly the same as the launchers used outside Omiya JGSDF base in Nov 10, the ones outside Atsugi in Dec 09 and ones outside Yokota in Oct 09 (the ones at Yokota and Atsugi failed to launch). .

The group that claimed responsibility for these previous incidents was a faction one of Japan's "big three" leftist radical groups. Given Vice President Biden is visiting next week, and with all the discussions on reinterpreting Art 9, it would seem very likely that this group is responsible.

These peoples actions are illegal and they should be caught and charged !! I do not care who they are or what their reasoning is!!

These people need to be caught and charged with the crime! I do not care who they are or what their reasoning is! What they did was dangerous and stupid!!!!!!

Some elements out of control can be found everywhere in the world.

Are they going to blame the Chinese on this one too?

Improvised rocket launchers were fired close to a U.S. air base near Tokyo

I've never seen 'impoverished' use to describe weapons before.

Let's hope the nuts responsible are caught before they actually kill somebody!

I'm sure some spice has been added to this story. Probably oversized regular firework rockets at 5,000 Yen each, bought at Donki. I'm not giving this story any weight. I just feel sorry for the American personnel to be imprisoned with curfews and 2 cans of beer a day for over a year now. Rape? 3 assaults amongst 50,000 servicemen. What's that in percentage? I'm sure it's ten folds higher amongst the local population. Let's wait for some Chinese conflict and see how popular our "oppressors" suddenly become. Shall we?

It seems that some wackoes played a practical jokes. I don't think utlra leftist groups did it. Japanese don't have real weapons anyway. The Air Base is peaceful as same as usual. It means no worry about it.

"The group that claimed responsibility for these previous incidents was a faction one of Japan's "big three" leftist radical groups"

As I have stated before PRC agents are hard at work here trying to make it seem as if the Japanese people are against the US. Which each and everyone here knows, the Japanese people and Japan support America and dislike the fascist in the PRC.

whiskeysourNov. 30, 2013 - 06:42AM JST Mortar Attack in Japan ? The media should open up the ears and eyes of people who think amaerican military is here to destroy Japan. They need a wake up call...

All I can say is wow, you PRC "water internet army" members must be in crisis mode. Now, your claiming that all that is happening is the US's fault and not the PRC.

We see right through your silly remarks and notice the dire mood you guys are in now. Your fear comes through loud and clear.

Improvised rocket launchers were fired close to a U.S. air base near Tokyo I've never seen 'impoverished' use to describe weapons before.

And you still haven't.

@strangerland you never herd of improvised like an IED an improvised explosive device which was the main killer of solders in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's called improvised because they would make a bomb using anything that would explode not a normal bomb making material.

americalovejapanNov. 29, 2013 - 04:19PM JST

"I believe this is China trying to F with the Japanese American relations due to the islands. They've warned the US many times not to meddle with its affairs. The Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese should be far too familiar with the mentality of Washington, so their new zone and this seem as if they're getting a little nervous with the massive fleet build up and the new Ford Class carrier that will be the largest in the world and made just for the Pacific - even larger than Nimitz class. Enjoy the gift China. ~ From America :D P.S. I hope for peace, no war - the area has seen enough people die."

You don't hope for any peace Pal. Oh yours is bigger than anyone eases. You reckon it was China do you Dick Tracey ?? Sounds like a diversion. Perhaps it was you. Your telling us it was China perhaps it was you. Japan Today should hand this guys IP address over for Investigation. Perhaps they should see what you are doing in Japan and outside seeing your fanning Flames. By the way the only one getting nervous is you Pal and take your Propaganda to CNN where you will fit in beautifully.

USNinJapan2 what I am saying is Okinawa people would not go to the mainland to protest at American bases. Second I know of no groups that would do this action. We are a peaceful people! I think they were fireworks like the ones used on Camp Zama before and again, the Okinawa people would NEVER do this act!

I hear ya man.

At last, someone is finally taking action against these 'guests' of Japan.

Tiger_In_The_HermitageNov. 29, 2013 - 05:38PM JST

Are they going to blame the Chinese on this one too?

Probably they are a politically lefty who were influenced by commies from China.

@usninjapan2 - Well, I'm sure the police found "Made in China" on all of the mortar parts they found and based on their ineffectiveness, who else could it be?

How do you fire a rocket LAUNCHER?

Mortar Attack in Japan ? The media should open up the ears and eyes of people who think amaerican military is here to destroy Japan. They need a wake up call...

Japan’s politics is generally moderate, although there are vestiges of the radicalism on both left and right that abounded in the 1960s and 1970s.

It is amazing me to hear that Japan politics is generally moderate from that article. If it is true, angles will fly over Okinawa and Santa will descend to Yokota air base with reindeers.

Japan has extreme right wing political group such as current administration. Japan also has extreme left wing political group that thug unionists of Revolutionary Laborers Association Anti-Majority Faction.

However it is doubtful that attack was not involved by residents of Okinawa. There is no other prefectures which have the most anti USA movement. It is reasonable that government want to play down the tension between local and base at the current heated climate. Uncomfortable truth is not all Okinawans want to kiss the boots of service men. Some of them want to kick off them as soon as possible.

I disagree that violence is not the nature of Okinawans. Violence was part of the history of war thorn Okinawa.

PRC agents doing their part to make it seem as if the Japanese people are with the PRC.

Only a matter of time before these miscreant are caught and dealt with.

Not the Okinawan People since they would shoot at a Marine base at home. Then again violence is not in our nature. Dunno on who fired the fireworks.

So what do we blame this on?

Okinawans?

(As Yuri points out, Okinawans are not so aggressive.)

"Militant leftists?"

(Stock answer)

Chinese sympathisers?

(Come on! Enough of the propaganda, already!)

How about people are just sick of American imperialism and military aggression?

Ok perhaps a NSA for Japan isn't such a bad idea with nuts like this

I believe this is China trying to F with the Japanese American relations due to the islands. They've warned the US many times not to meddle with its affairs. The Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese should be far too familiar with the mentality of Washington, so their new zone and this seem as if they're getting a little nervous with the massive fleet build up and the new Ford Class carrier that will be the largest in the world and made just for the Pacific - even larger than Nimitz class. Enjoy the gift China. ~ From America :D P.S. I hope for peace, no war - the area has seen enough people die.

Extreme leftists, as in communists? Maybe the Okinawans are turning militant to get the US military presence off their islands.

"Extreme leftists, as in communists? Maybe the Okinawans are turning militant to get the US military presence off their islands." All the rape and atrocity during ww2 by usa military and occupation until 1970s probably some okinawans have extra resentment. Lucky for rest of japan, propaganda distored history taught dampened the resentment.