Tom LaRaia comments

I think this is an unfair characterization of both sides. For one, the fact that Iwakuni voted in a pro-base mayor who allowed the aircraft transfer should tell you that opposition to the American presence here is very far from mainstream. Protests are very rare, with the last one attracting maybe 30 people. Barely newsworthy.

The racism you encountered trying to get a cab perfectly illustrates typical Japanese racism. There isn't much outright hatred or xenophobia, it's more of a deep cultural ignorance due to lack of exposure to other cultures. People come to expect what they see regularly. They expect westerners to want to go to the base, so that's how they approached you.

Overall I think your article is more fair than most I have read, but I still see it as inflating the conflict to make it seem worse than what it is.