An acquaintance asked a few questions about these accidents. This is how I responded.
Aircraft accidents are always a good “headline” as reporters know.
But with Japan, such crashes get even more attention when they involve US forces.
Leftist Japanese politicians used the crashes as evidence to rail against the US presence and erode the alliance.
And the anti-military / anti-US part of the Japanese public – centered around the once formidable leftist political parties was similarly aroused.
Japanese bureaucrats and officials reacted accordingly, aiming to head off popular opposition and a perceived threat to the alliance.
Given the increased militarism among Japan’s neighbors, does that negative mindset still survive?
These days some of this mindset is still around, but a good bit of the excessive attention and panicked response is the result of habit.
“US aircraft crashes. Panic. Ask for a “stand down” for a bit and demand the Americans stop being so reckless. And then after a period of time, everything goes back to normal.”
Given that that there is far less uproar when Japan Self-Defense Force aircraft crash, one detects some selective indignation at work.
Indeed, Japanese officialdom seems to be stuck in a bit of a time bubble and doesn’t realize the Japanese public is not exactly seething. And in fact, mostly seems glad the US forces are still around to defend Japan.
What issues do Japanese people have with the Osprey in particular?
That depends on which Japanese one is talking about. Most Japanese don’t give the matter much thought.
Some Japanese have heard the Ospreys are dangerous ー from leftist media, mostly. Beyond that, they don’t know very much.
But ask yourself, how many Japanese do you know who go around every day worrying that an Osprey will fall out of the sky and squash them?
None that I’ve met.
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