TOKYO, June 9 — A sudden explosion at a US air base in Japan’s Okinawa has left four Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) members injured, sending shockwaves through the local community and renewing concerns over safety at military facilities.
The incident occurred at the Kadena Air Base, where SDF personnel were engaged in a routine yet dangerous task—cleaning rust off old, possibly unexploded ordnance to determine whether it was still live. As they carefully handled the aged equipment, an unexpected blast erupted, injuring four men.
“They were trying to do their job, making sure these old devices weren’t a threat,” said Akira Kamiunten, a spokesperson for the local fire department. “Then something went wrong.”
All four were immediately rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, according to reports from Jiji Press and other local media outlets, none of the injuries are life-threatening. The Japanese Defense Ministry has confirmed the explosion but has not yet released further details.
The incident has stirred memories of Okinawa’s long and painful history with military conflict. During World War II, the island became a brutal battlefield, where over a quarter of its civilian population perished in 1945. Even after the war ended, Okinawa remained under US occupation until 1972.
To this day, the island hosts more than half of the 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan and houses 70 percent of US military base land in the country.
While the explosion today did not result in fatalities, it highlights the risks that linger around munitions and the people who deal with them. For the residents of Okinawa, it is another reminder of the complex legacy they continue to live with—one that blends duty, danger, and deep-rooted history.
