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YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa — Over 100 individuals thought to be associated with the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka base created a significant commotion early on May 21 in a nearby entertainment area, leading military police to step in.

The event took place in front of various businesses, including a karaoke bar, within the entertainment area of Dobuita Street in Yokosuka city, Kanagawa Prefecture. From approximately midnight to 1 a.m., groups of about 10 individuals each flooded the street and kept shouting. Military police from the base stepped in after being informed by the Yokosuka Police Station and instructed the crowd to disperse, but the shouting persisted until almost 2 a.m. A smartphone application used by this reporter recorded the noise level at around 80 decibels, similar to the sound inside a subway train. The local police station received more than 10 complaints from residents, including reports that they were unable to sleep.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived back at the Yokosuka base on May 17, and the presence of U.S. military personnel was more evident than usual in the nearby entertainment areas. The ship is set to leave again on May 23, carrying 5,052 crew members onboard.

(Japanese original by Koichi Fukuzawa, Yokosuka Local Bureau)