September 16, 2026
Tsuyoshi Masuda
President, Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions (Min-iren)

Regarding the detection of high concentrations of organic fluorine compounds (PFAS), which are linked to cancer risk, near the U.S. Kadena Air Base and the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, it was revealed on September 8 that the U.S. forces in Japan had told the Japanese government in December 2023 that the source of the contamination had likely originated from the bases.

The Japanese government in December 2025 announced that the U.S. forces rejected on-site inspections requested by Okinawa Prefecture, but it failed to disclose the U.S. recognition of the contamination source. Even though the U.S. military indicated it had no objection to disclosing the fact, the government chose to conceal it. Such a response cannot be overlooked.

According to the government’s announcement, the U.S. military refuses to allow on-site inspections because no sample data provides clear scientific evidence that the bases are the source of contamination. Demanding data that is only available on the bases before on-site inspections is extremely unreasonable.

The Japanese government’s stance is outrageous. It prioritizes the U.S. military, which refuses on-site inspections despite acknowledging the contamination, and disregards the lives and health of Okinawan residents by concealing the contamination.

Striving to protect residents’ health, Min-iren has argued that the PFAS contamination issue, which extends beyond Okinawa and to the whole country, is a human rights issue affecting people’s lives and health. We strongly demand that the government address residents’ health concerns as soon as possible and negotiate with the U.S. to urgently conduct on-site inspections of U.S. military bases.