The court ordered the government to pay ¥1.188 billion to 1,580 people who live around the base, increasing the amount of damages from ¥810 million certified at a lower court.

Presiding Judge Eikichi Nagato at the high court's Kanazawa Branch said, "damages beyond tolerable limits have been imposed on the plaintiffs."

But the high court rejected the plaintiffs' request that ASDF and U.S. military flights at the base be suspended, saying this "cannot be claimed in a civil suit as it would invalidate the powers entrusted to the defense minister."

On U.S. military flights, the judge said "Japan cannot control U.S. military activities."

The Japan Times Weekly: April 21, 2007
(C) All rights reserved