Noise of 70 decibels and over recorded more than 30,000 times around U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni in fiscal 2023, largest number since runaway was relocated offshore
Apr. 5, 2024
by Nana Kawamura, Staff Writer
On April 4, it was learned the Iwakuni City government had compiled data indicating that in fiscal 2023, noise greater than 70 decibels was measured 32,641 times in five locations around the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the largest number since fiscal 2010, when Iwakuni’s runway was relocated offshore, a kilometer from its original location. Instances of noise measured above this level in fiscal 2023 surpassed records from fiscal 2008 and 2009, before the relocation of the runway. The 2023 increase can be attributed apparently to Air Force planes flying from other bases in July as well as to carrier-based planes that temporarily returned to Iwakuni and conduced training there in August and September of that year.
The Iwakuni City government received a record number of 8,108 complaints about noise in fiscal 2023, 1.4 times more than in fiscal 2022.
Noise of 70 or more decibels, equivalent to the noise on “a noisy street,” was recorded 1.3 times more in 2023 than in fiscal 2022. It is the first time since fiscal 2021 in Iwakuni that measured noise at this level reached 30,000 instances; a year when noise reaching these same levels was recorded 30,586 times. Instances of noise measurements in fiscal 2023 exceeded those in fiscal 2008 (26,467 times) as well as in fiscal 2009 (32,119 times), both prior to the runway being relocated offshore.
Noise in the vicinity of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni had originally decreased after fiscal 2010 due to the offshore relocation of the runway. Noise has increased, however since fiscal 2018 when around 60 carrier-based planes were transferred to Iwakuni from the Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. Typically, noise tends to decrease in the summer when carrier-based planes leave the base in Iwakuni and conduct training with an aircraft carrier at sea.
From July through September 2023, the number of measurements recorded above 70 decibels was between 2,134 and 3,500 monthly, an increase between 1.2 and 2 times higher than those same months in 2022. These 2023 July through September increases were the highest on record since fiscal 2010. In July, nine F-15E Strike Eagles flying from the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture and twelve F-16 Fighting Falcons flying from the Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture joined massive military exercises conducted by U.S. forces. In August and September, carrier-based planes temporarily returned to Iwakuni and repeatedly performed military drills over a period of one and a half months.
Tetsuo Maeda, a military critic, pointed out, “U.S. forces have been putting effort into the defense of the Nansei Islands in consideration of China, which is enhancing its military activities, and possible crises in Taiwan. I believe noise has increased as U.S. forces are holding joint military drills more vigorously with the Self-Defense Forces of Japan.”
(Originally published on April 5, 2024)
On April 4, it was learned the Iwakuni City government had compiled data indicating that in fiscal 2023, noise greater than 70 decibels was measured 32,641 times in five locations around the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the largest number since fiscal 2010, when Iwakuni’s runway was relocated offshore, a kilometer from its original location. Instances of noise measured above this level in fiscal 2023 surpassed records from fiscal 2008 and 2009, before the relocation of the runway. The 2023 increase can be attributed apparently to Air Force planes flying from other bases in July as well as to carrier-based planes that temporarily returned to Iwakuni and conduced training there in August and September of that year.
The Iwakuni City government received a record number of 8,108 complaints about noise in fiscal 2023, 1.4 times more than in fiscal 2022.
Noise of 70 or more decibels, equivalent to the noise on “a noisy street,” was recorded 1.3 times more in 2023 than in fiscal 2022. It is the first time since fiscal 2021 in Iwakuni that measured noise at this level reached 30,000 instances; a year when noise reaching these same levels was recorded 30,586 times. Instances of noise measurements in fiscal 2023 exceeded those in fiscal 2008 (26,467 times) as well as in fiscal 2009 (32,119 times), both prior to the runway being relocated offshore.
Noise in the vicinity of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni had originally decreased after fiscal 2010 due to the offshore relocation of the runway. Noise has increased, however since fiscal 2018 when around 60 carrier-based planes were transferred to Iwakuni from the Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. Typically, noise tends to decrease in the summer when carrier-based planes leave the base in Iwakuni and conduct training with an aircraft carrier at sea.
From July through September 2023, the number of measurements recorded above 70 decibels was between 2,134 and 3,500 monthly, an increase between 1.2 and 2 times higher than those same months in 2022. These 2023 July through September increases were the highest on record since fiscal 2010. In July, nine F-15E Strike Eagles flying from the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture and twelve F-16 Fighting Falcons flying from the Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture joined massive military exercises conducted by U.S. forces. In August and September, carrier-based planes temporarily returned to Iwakuni and repeatedly performed military drills over a period of one and a half months.
Tetsuo Maeda, a military critic, pointed out, “U.S. forces have been putting effort into the defense of the Nansei Islands in consideration of China, which is enhancing its military activities, and possible crises in Taiwan. I believe noise has increased as U.S. forces are holding joint military drills more vigorously with the Self-Defense Forces of Japan.”
(Originally published on April 5, 2024)
