On August 5, DPJ Next Minister of Defense Hajime Hirota issued the following statement.

Today, at approximately 4 pm, a US military helicopter crashed at the US military base of Camp Hansen in Ginoza village, Okinawa prefecture.

Details of the crash, including the condition of the crew members, are still unclear, but we take the fact that the accident occurred in Okinawa, where US military bases are concentrated, very seriously, and urge the US military and the government of Japan to establish the cause of the crash, as well as ensuring the prevention of further such incidents and implementation of thorough-going safety management.