This is a list of designated third country nationals that require advance authorization to access US military bases in Japan.[1] [2] It should be considered by prospective attendees of the various friendship festivals held at US bases around Japan.
While most countries on the list are those with a history of instability or tension with the US, the inclusion of France in 2009 did attract some media attention in Japan when a French citizen was blocked from visiting a "Friendship Day" at Negishi Heights in Yokohama in 2010.[3] As of 2011 France had been removed from the list.[2]
In the 2009 list Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Colombia, Croatia, France, Macedonia, Mali, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkmenistan and Vietnam were included.[1] In the 2011 list they were removed.[2]
In the 2011 list Rwanda and South Africa were added.[2]