Brig. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan, gave an interview to the Sankei Shimbun and other media outlets on April 22. He touched on the possible military-civilian use of the U.S. military’s Yokota Air Base (straddling Fussa and other cities in Tokyo) during the period of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and expressed his intention to fully support the initiative if the U.S. approves a detailed plan for it.

Brig. Gen. Mahoney explained that there are procedures for the U.S. government to examine and approve Japan’s request for military-civilian use. He added, “Nothing has been decided yet, but we’d like to fully support the idea.”

Severe congestion is expected at Narita and Haneda airports during the Olympics with athletes and spectators coming from many countries, prompting calls from the Japanese government for the military-civilian use of the base.