Kyodo reported a council of 15 governors from prefectures hosting U.S. bases
submitted a petition to the central government on the 20th requesting amendment
of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The petition cited safety
risks from U.S. military flights, hazardous-substance leaks at bases, problems
from U.S. use of civil airports and ports, and incidents of U.S. personnel
carrying firearms off-base that could unsettle residents, and urged U.S. forces
be required to respect and be subject to Japanese domestic law.
