U.S. military to stop public showing of artillery training in Hokkaido

KUSHIRO, Japan, Nov. 13 Kyodo -
The U.S. military in Japan has decided to stop showing to the public its
artillery training in Hokkaido involving its Marines and no longer hold a press
conference on the training either, Japanese Defense Ministry and local sources said Thursday.

The move has triggered a backlash among local communities, with Hokkaido Gov.
Harumi Takahashi saying in a press conference, ''It's highly regrettable,''
while local municipalities criticized the move as ''a huge retreat on efforts
on provision of information'' by the U.S. military.
According to the Defense Ministry, U.S. Forces Japan told the ministry that the
training is routine, has been conducted over a decade and that it wants to let
commanding officers, who must go to great efforts in ensuring safety, focus on
their duties.
The U.S. military said it will instead post information and photographs
regarding the exercise by the Okinawa-based U.S. Marines at the Yausubetsu
Maneuver Area on a website.
Hokkaido and four surrounding towns have already urged the Hokkaido Defense
Bureau to have the military continue the public showing and press conference.
Takahashi also expressed an intention to ask the ministry to review the
training as well as concerns that the exercise has been scheduled on a regular
basis.
The next firing training is set to start next Thursday and take place for 10
days in a period until Dec. 3, involving about 260 people. The training will be
the 10th to be held at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area on the nation's
northernmost main island.
==Kyodo