The collection is about the United States Forces, Japan (USFJ) , the background of USFJ, why Japan needs US military, the issues caused by USFJ military and what will happen in Japan and USFJ in the future.

After World War II, Okinawa region came under the United States administration. In 1972, Okinawa was handed back to Japan. During this period, most of the land was requisitioned for building military bases which left behind a bitter historical fact. For current inhabitants, this feeling is profound because today, Okinawa is host to nearly 70 percent of all the US military bases in Japan.

The expansion of bases including the Henoko project and environmental issues including damage to coral reefs and disruption of endangered species preserve them fuel the protests. Americans stationed overseas with their neighbors also deal with issues such as noise pollution, threats to safety, and sexual crimes which serve to exacerbate their frustration. For many of the Okinawa people, the shocking reality is that Tokyo seems to focus its attention on national security interests, ignoring the realties and conditions of the local people which leaves them feeling confused. 

In the future, Japan will rely more and more on USFJ . Japan is dependent on the military of the U.S. for safety. The U.S.-Japan alliance is a bulwark against threats from North Korean missiles, the growing military of China and Russia’s expansionist policies. The deployment of the United States forces in the region helps to maintain order in the Asia-Pacific region by deterring aggressors and providing confidence to the allies. The location of American military bases enables Japan to direct its energies on economic growth while taking advantage of sophisticated US military technology and power. This relation, established by the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, serves simultaneously both to defend Japan and promote stability in the area by strengthening rule based international order in East Asia.