Mainichi wrote that the Defense Ministry started conducting field surveys on Monday around two GSDF camps in Akita and Yamaguchi Prefectures to check whether the geological and other features of these locations are appropriate for accommodating the Aegis Ashore platforms that the ministry is hoping to deploy there. The results of the probes, which will also address the potential impact on human health of the radio waves emitted by the platforms’ radar, are expected to be released by the end of March 2019.