Omoiyari Yosan
Popular term for cost sharing by Japan / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Omoiyari Yosan (思いやり予算, lit. sympathy budget), is a popular term for funds provided by Japan as host nation support for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan. The official term is Cost Sharing for the US Forces Stationed in Japan (在日米軍駐留経費負担, Zainichi Beigun Churyu Keihi Futan). Although the term technically only covers the portion of financial support not mandated under the 1960 U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), it is popularly used to refer to Japanese support as a whole.[1][2] The specific terms for cost-sharing are codified under the "Special Measures Agreement," the most recent of which was signed in 2016.[3]
The term originates from comments made in 1978 by the then Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency, Shin Kanemaru, in defense of the Japanese government's decision to share financial responsibilities for the American bases in Japan.[4] When questioned about the expenditure, Kanemaru replied that they were provided out of "sympathy".[5]