Japan failed to disclose US view on PFAS found near Okinawa bases: source

The United States informed Japan that harmful PFAS chemicals detected near its Okinawa military bases likely originated from those installations, a government source revealed on Tuesday. Despite having this knowledge, the Japanese Defense Ministry did not disclose it when announcing in December 2025 that Washington had declined Okinawa's prefectural government's request for on-site inspections of the bases.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki expressed disappointment over the central government's handling of the situation, emphasizing the necessity of on-site inspections by the local authorities. Initially, the U.S. had mentioned its speculation regarding the chemicals' probable source during its communication with Japanese officials regarding the refusal of inspections.

However, this information was omitted from the final U.S.-Japan statement. The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced their decision in December, citing the lack of conclusive data proving the chemicals' origin from the bases. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated on Tuesday that the government intends to avoid disclosing further details on their discussions with the United States.

PFAS, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," are a group of over 10,000 synthetic substances, including PFOS and PFOA. These chemicals have been detected around U.S. military bases in Okinawa, including Kadena Air Base and Air Station Futenma. In June, the local government made its fifth request for the U.S. military to allow on-site inspections at these bases.

PFAS contamination has been found in tap water, rivers, U.S. military bases, and Japan Self-Defense Forces facilities, sparking concerns about potential health risks such as cancer.