Japan’s National Police Agency Confirms Radical Leftist Presence in Okinawa Base Protests

In May 2026, a statement by the National Police Agency (NPA) in the National Diet regarding anti-base protest movements in Okinawa garnered significant attention. In response to questioning from Masamune Wada, a member of the Sanseito Party, the NPA reaffirmed that members of "extreme leftist revolutionary groups" have been identified among those participating in the base protests.

According to the NPA's testimony, these groups are defined as "organizations aiming to realize a communist society through violent revolution." The agency explained that since statistics began in 1972, these groups have been responsible for a total of 1,161 terrorist and guerrilla incidents to date. This specific testimony was delivered during a discussion regarding a boat capsizing accident that occurred off the coast of Henoko.

The news triggered a surge of diverse reactions on social media. Some users expressed heightened concerns over public safety, with comments such as "I knew it" and calls for a thorough investigation into the actual state of these activities. There were also posts expressing fear regarding the potential involvement of local educational institutions in the movement, with parents worrying about the risk of children coming into contact with radical groups.

Conversely, many voices called for a cautious interpretation of the testimony. One user pointed out, "What the NPA acknowledged is the fact that they are 'mixed into a portion' of the movement; it does not mean the anti-base movement itself or the participating residents as a whole are extreme leftist revolutionary groups," warning against the dangers of broad labeling. Furthermore, some who emphasize the harm caused by crimes and accidents related to U.S. bases argued that attacking only the anti-base movement is unjust, with some even dismissing the testimony as "disinformation" or "falsehoods." This divide highlights the deep polarization of public opinion on the matter.

How to distinguish between peaceful resident movements and extremist involvement remains a difficult question. This Diet testimony has added a new layer of controversy to the long-standing debate over the base issues in Okinawa.

The context

Okinawa Prefecture hosts the vast majority of U.S. military facilities in Japan, a situation that has led to decades of local tension over noise pollution, environmental concerns, and crimes involving military personnel. The "extreme leftist revolutionary groups" (Gokusa-boryoku-shudan) mentioned by the police refers to various radical factions that emerged from the student movements of the 1960s, such as the Chukaku-ha (Central Core Faction). While their numbers have significantly declined since the Cold War, the Japanese government continues to monitor them as potential threats to public order. The Henoko district is particularly contentious as it is the site of a planned relocation for the Futenma airbase, a project that has faced intense opposition from both the local government and activist groups for years.