This talk provides an overview of the economic and political impacts of the presence of U.S. military bases in Japan. International relations research has traditionally examined U.S. bases qualitatively, treating them as an outcome of U.S. global security strategy. In contrast, military economics focus on the economic effects of base closures and realignments in the United States and Europe. Studies examining the impact of U.S. bases on Japan remain scarce. This research addresses this gap by presenting the historical and strategic background of U.S. bases in Japan, alongside empirical evidence and case studies that illustrate the effects of these bases on surrounding communities. The project employs a mixed-methods design and explores the relationship between U.S. bases and Japanese municipalities using the original dataset “The United States Bases in Japan”, which draws on a wide range of primary and secondary sources. Details and registration here