Japanese Soldiers Injured in Explosion at U.S. Airbase in Okinawa

Four Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members were injured in an explosion at an unexploded ordnance storage site in Okinawa.

Kyodo News reported on this.

The explosion was recorded at one of the facilities on the Kadena Air Base, operated by the U.S. Aviation Command, during the disposal of unexploded World War II-era munitions.

As a result of the explosion, four Japanese soldiers sustained lacerations to their fingers and possible hearing damage; however, none of their injuries are life-threatening.

The ammunition disposal site in Okinawa Prefecture is used for the temporary storage and disposal of munitions found during excavation work.

The incident took place during the removal of rust from an old munition, which suddenly detonated, injuring four Japanese soldiers.

Representatives of the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces confirmed that no American personnel were present at the base during the incident. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is currently underway.

It is worth noting that this is the first such incident since the establishment of Japan’s unexploded ordnance disposal unit in 1974.

Approximately 1,856 tons of explosive ordnance remaining from the war are still buried in Okinawa; these continue to be discovered and disposed of during construction and excavation work.

Specialized Units of Japan Self-Defense Forces for Unexploded Ordnance Disposal

Currently, Japan has four dedicated units responsible for locating, neutralizing, and disposing of unexploded ordnance.

The unit involved in the recent disposal operation in Okinawa belonged to the 101st Company of the 15th Infantry Brigade. The other three units — the 102nd, 103rd, and 104th Companies — are based in Saitama, Kyoto, and Saga, respectively.

Between 1972 and 2024, these units handled approximately 40,000 munitions weighing over 1,884 tons. According to the unit, unexploded shells are found at least once a day, with some days requiring up to nine deployments. Each company consists of roughly 23 to 25 qualified sappers and support personnel.

It is worth noting that, according to official statistics, in 2020, sappers across Japan disposed of at least 1,441 munitions weighing approximately 33 tons — about one-third of which were in Okinawa.