Japan's 'secret' army sneaks into Narita unobserved

[Taro Toporific]

Japanese troops returning from Iraq asked to shed uniforms
--Airport and government officials fear inflaming public opposition to the country's military deployment---
TOKYO -Japanese soldiers returning from a tour of duty in Iraq this month got an unusual request from the Tokyo airport authorities: Do not wear your uniforms.
So, 82 soldiers coming back from their humanitarian mission in south- ern Iraq had to peel off their camouflage uniforms and buy suits and ties in Kuwait for the trip home...
... The airport has been dogged by protests for decades, and Transport Ministry official Satoshi Yamaguchi said yesterday that the government had agreed that it would not allow the airport to be used by the military.
'We have to keep our promise, as long as we receive complaints from the nearby residents,' Mr Yamaguchi said.

[kurohinge1]

... 82 soldiers coming back from their humanitarian mission in south- ern Iraq had to peel off their camouflage uniforms and buy suits and ties in Kuwait for the trip home...

It sounds like the Arab tailors won that battle ...



If only the J-government had given me some notice - I could've popped down the local charity house and snaffled-up 82 slightly used small-medium suits for a song, then ducked over to Kuwait and sold them at around 30,000 yen a piece and made a lazy 2.46 million yen !