Regarding Chofu Airfield and the nearby “Chofu Base Site Reserve Land,” the city has signed a partnership agreement with the J1 League soccer club FC Tokyo, deciding on a policy to develop the site as the team’s training base. The aim is to begin use in the 2028 fiscal year. Meanwhile, local residents have voiced dissatisfaction, saying, “There was no prior notification to residents,” and “Are we using city taxes to support a specific team?”

Clubhouse, Natural Grass Fields, and a Public-Use Plaza

The Chofu Base Site Reserve Land, located south of Chofu Airfield, spans approximately 6 hectares and is currently state-owned land managed by the national government. It was part of the large-scale properties returned from the US military in 1976, with the national government stating it would “refrain from disposal for the time being.” In 2003, the national government shifted its policy on state-owned land to “principle of utilization and planned effective use,” and continued discussions with Chofu City. The city formulated a utilization plan in 2008 aiming to use it as a “park with disaster prevention and sports/recreation functions.” However, due to major fiscal demands such as continuous grade separation projects and while considering “utilization of private sector vitality,” the plan had not been realized.

According to the city, the new development is planned to include an athletic facility building that will also serve as FC Tokyo’s training base facility, two natural grass fields, as well as a plaza for general public use and tennis courts. Disaster prevention storage space is also under consideration.

The cost to acquire the land from the national government…

Chofu Airfield

Chofu Airfield is a small public airport located in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan, which first opened in 1941 as a military airfield for the Imperial Japanese Army. After World War II, it was used by the United States Air Force before being returned to Japan and repurposed for civilian general aviation, flight training, and emergency services. Today, it is notably one of the busiest heliports in Japan and serves as a base for police and fire department helicopters.

Chofu Base Site Reserve Land

The Chofu Base Site Reserve Land is a former Imperial Japanese Army airfield located in Chofu, Tokyo, which was established in the 1930s and later used by the United States Air Force after World War II. Today, the site is a public park and sports complex, with some preserved historical structures, serving as a recreational area while reflecting its significant military past.

FC Tokyo

FC Tokyo is a professional football club based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1998 as the successor to the Tokyo Gas football team. It plays its home matches at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chōfu and is a prominent member of the J1 League, Japan’s top football division. The club has a strong local fanbase and has won major domestic trophies, including the Emperor’s Cup and the J.League Cup.

J1 League

The J1 League is Japan’s top professional football division, founded in 1992 as the J.League to revitalize the sport in the country after the success of the semi-professional Japan Soccer League. It played a pivotal role in popularizing football in Japan, with its inaugural season in 1993 helping to build momentum for the nation’s co-hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.