Omoiyari Yosan
Encyclopedia
, is a popular term for money provided by Japan for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan
. The official term is . Although technically only the portion of financial support not mandated under the 1960 U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA), it is popularly used to refer to Japanese support as a whole.
The term originates from comments made in 1978 by the then Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency
, Shin Kanemaru
, in defense of the Japanese government's decision to share financial responsibilities for the U.S. bases in Japan. When questioned about the expenditure, Kanemaru replied that they were provided out of "sympathy".
However, with the rising value of the yen
increasing the cost of maintaining forces in Japan and Japan's rapid economic growth increasing the ability of the Japanese to contribute, the United States began in the mid-1970s to pressure Japan to increase its support.
Because of the continual use of the term, both by Kanemaru and those questioning him, these additional expenditures became known as the "sympathy budget."
The circumstances that led to the initial establishment of the budget have seen ceased, but the budget itself has continued. The current Japanese government explains the rationale for the sympathy budget in this way:
"As a measure to ensure the smooth operations of US forces stationed in Japan, and taking due consideration of the financial situation, our nation voluntarily bears part of the operating costs for those troops."
The most significant expansions in Japanese support have been:
These expanded costs have become Japan's most significant contribution to the US-Japan security alliance. In 2002 Japan's contributions represented more than 60% of all allied financial contributions to the US, and covered 75% of USFJ's operating costs.
The appropriation amount steadily increased from 1978 to 2001, but has since declined due to pressures placed on the Japanese government (see Opposition below). The 2008 Japanese defense budget allocated ¥146.3 billion for labor costs, ¥36.2 billion for FIP, ¥25.3 billion for utilities, ¥500 million for training relocation, for a total of ¥208.3 billion. This represents a 4.1% decrease from the previous year. The total amount that Japan has appropriated for the U.S. troops in Japan since 1987 amounted to ¥12.96 trillion, including base peripheral expenses and base grants.
In 1998 former LDP Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa
proposed ending the budget in 2000 when the then-current SMA expired due to Japan's "severe financial crisis." And the Japanese government has tried to take steps to reduce the budget. In 2007 the government implemented a cut in the salaries of Japanese nationals working on the US bases, a measure that reduced the Japanese burden by ¥10 billion.
When the 2008 SMA came to a vote in the Japanese Diet, it was opposed by the Communists, Democrats
, and Social Democrats, leading to its failure to pass the Upper House. Although the Lower House later overrode the decision, the oppositions managed to create a 1 month space between the prior Agreement's expiration and the new one's passage, the first gap since it was established in 1978. In explaining their opposition, the Democrats stated that the Japanese government needed to "negotiate from the viewpoint of the Japanese people," while criticizing the government for destabilizing the lives of the bases' Japanese workforce.
United States Forces Japan
The refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces for...
. The official term is . Although technically only the portion of financial support not mandated under the 1960 U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement
U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement
U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement is an agreement between Japan and the U.S...
(SOFA), it is popularly used to refer to Japanese support as a whole.
The term originates from comments made in 1978 by the then Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency
Japan Defense Agency
The is a cabinet-level ministry of the Japanese government. As a result of a law enacted on December 15, 2006, it became a ministry on January 9, 2007. Prior to that, it was the Japan Defense Agency ...
, Shin Kanemaru
Shin Kanemaru
Shin Kanemaru , September 17, 1914 - March 28, 1996, was a Japanese politician. He was born in Imasuwa village , Yamanashi Prefecture. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and member of the faction of Noboru Takeshita. In 1992, he was indicted in the Sagawa Kyubin corruption scandal...
, in defense of the Japanese government's decision to share financial responsibilities for the U.S. bases in Japan. When questioned about the expenditure, Kanemaru replied that they were provided out of "sympathy".
Background
Under the 1960 SOFA agreement, the support Japan was required to provide for US Forces Japan (USFJ) was limited to the provision of "facilities and areas" for use:However, with the rising value of the yen
Endaka
Endaka or Endaka Fukyo is a state in which the value of the Japanese yen is high compared to other currencies. Since the Economy of Japan is highly dependent on exports, this can cause Japan to fall into an economic recession....
increasing the cost of maintaining forces in Japan and Japan's rapid economic growth increasing the ability of the Japanese to contribute, the United States began in the mid-1970s to pressure Japan to increase its support.
Origins of the Term
The Japanese government first agreed to provide additional support in 1978 by assuming responsibility for the welfare payments of Japanese nationals employed by the USFJ. When questioned in the Diet about the new appropriation in June, Kanemaru made a series of statements in which he repeatedly used the word "omoiyari," which means sympathy or consideration:- On June 6th, he asked "given the importance of the US-Japan relationship and considering the strengthening of the yen versus the dollar, isn't it alright to do this not because America is requesting it, but rather out of sympathy, to increase the sense of trust between us?"
- On June 8th, "I think that sympathetic consideration here can improve the US-Japan relationship... I sincerely believe that the US-Japan Security Treaty is essential to maintaining Japan's independence and security today. As such, isn't it necessary to address the issue of burden sharing with an approach based on the importance of having deep sympathy?"
- On June 29th, "Now, about the issue of host nation expenditures. When I explained to Secretary Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...
that although we may not be able to promise any thing specific with numbers as of yet, from a sympathetic position our agency will put more effort in presenting a more detailed view on the issue within the scope of SOFA before he makes his visit to Japan, he was very pleased and no further request was made from the American side."
Because of the continual use of the term, both by Kanemaru and those questioning him, these additional expenditures became known as the "sympathy budget."
The circumstances that led to the initial establishment of the budget have seen ceased, but the budget itself has continued. The current Japanese government explains the rationale for the sympathy budget in this way:
"As a measure to ensure the smooth operations of US forces stationed in Japan, and taking due consideration of the financial situation, our nation voluntarily bears part of the operating costs for those troops."
Expansion of the Budget and Current Status
The additional support provided by the Japanese government has rapidly expanded in the years since. Although initially handled on an ad hoc basis, since 1987 the US and Japanese governments have signed a series of Special Measures Agreements (SMA) more formally establishing the Japanese commitment of support. The most recent SMA, covering the three-year period from 2008-2010, was signed in January of 2008. The agreements do not cover the specific monetary amounts to be provided the Japanese government.The most significant expansions in Japanese support have been:
- partial assumption of welfare costs for Japanese employed by USFJ (since 1978)
- establishment of the Facilities Improvement Program (FIP) which provides funds for the maintenance and upgrade of facilities and areas provided to USFJ (since 1979)
- partial assumption of labor costs for Japanese employed by USFJ (since 1987)
- partial assumption of utility costs for USFJ (since 1991)
- assumption of USFJ training relocation costs (since 1996)
These expanded costs have become Japan's most significant contribution to the US-Japan security alliance. In 2002 Japan's contributions represented more than 60% of all allied financial contributions to the US, and covered 75% of USFJ's operating costs.
The appropriation amount steadily increased from 1978 to 2001, but has since declined due to pressures placed on the Japanese government (see Opposition below). The 2008 Japanese defense budget allocated ¥146.3 billion for labor costs, ¥36.2 billion for FIP, ¥25.3 billion for utilities, ¥500 million for training relocation, for a total of ¥208.3 billion. This represents a 4.1% decrease from the previous year. The total amount that Japan has appropriated for the U.S. troops in Japan since 1987 amounted to ¥12.96 trillion, including base peripheral expenses and base grants.
Opposition
With the downturn in Japan's economic fortunes and the ending of the Cold War, criticism by opposition parties and the public have increased and divisions have developed among the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) regarding the issue of the budget.In 1998 former LDP Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa
Morihiro Hosokawa
is a Japanese politician who was the 79th Prime Minister of Japan from August 9, 1993 to April 28, 1994. His coalition was the first non-Liberal Democratic Party government since 1955.- Early life :...
proposed ending the budget in 2000 when the then-current SMA expired due to Japan's "severe financial crisis." And the Japanese government has tried to take steps to reduce the budget. In 2007 the government implemented a cut in the salaries of Japanese nationals working on the US bases, a measure that reduced the Japanese burden by ¥10 billion.
When the 2008 SMA came to a vote in the Japanese Diet, it was opposed by the Communists, Democrats
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
, and Social Democrats, leading to its failure to pass the Upper House. Although the Lower House later overrode the decision, the oppositions managed to create a 1 month space between the prior Agreement's expiration and the new one's passage, the first gap since it was established in 1978. In explaining their opposition, the Democrats stated that the Japanese government needed to "negotiate from the viewpoint of the Japanese people," while criticizing the government for destabilizing the lives of the bases' Japanese workforce.
See also
- U.S.-Japan Status of Forces AgreementU.S.-Japan Status of Forces AgreementU.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement is an agreement between Japan and the U.S...
- Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...
- West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
(For U.S., U.K. Forces) - East Germany (For USSR Forces)
- ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(For U.S. Forces)