AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON COOPERATION WITH REGARD TO IMPLEMENTATION PRACTICES RELATING TO THE CIVILIAN COMPONENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN JAPAN, SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE VI OF THE TREATY OF MUTUAL COOPERATION AND SECURITY BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, REGARDING FACILITIES AND AREAS AND THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN JAPAN

AGREEMENT BETWEEN 
THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ON COOPERATION WITH REGARD 
TO IMPLEMENTATION PRACTICES RELATING 
TO THE CIVILIAN COMPONENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN JAPAN,
SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE VI
OF THE TREATY OF MUTUAL COOPERATION AND SECURITY BETWEEN
JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
REGARDING FACILITIES AND AREAS AND
THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCES IN JAPAN



 The Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the “United States Government”), hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”;

 Confirming that the United States armed forces in Japan (hereinafter referred to as the “United States armed forces”) under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the “Treaty”) and the Agreement under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan (hereinafter referred to as the “Status of Forces Agreement”), both signed at Washington on January 19, 1960, contribute to the security of Japan and the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East;

 Bearing in mind the “Japan-United States Joint Statement on Reviewing Implementation Practices of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) Related to U.S. Personnel with SOFA Status, Including the Civilian Component” announced by the Parties on July 5, 2016, and its recognition of the spirit of Alliance cooperation and the mutual commitment of Japan and the United States to strengthen the Alliance further and to enhance deterrence in a complex regional and global security environment; 

 Acknowledging the essential role of members of the civilian component defined in subparagraph (b) of Article I of the Status of Forces Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “Civilian Component”)in fulfilling the United States’ obligations under the Treaty, as well as the importance of training and education processes for United States personnel with Status of Forces Agreement status;
 
 Wishing to strengthen cooperation between the Parties by establishing a framework, including this Agreement which supplements the Status of Forces Agreement, with regard to implementation practices relating to the Civilian Component; 

 Affirming the continuing effectiveness of the Joint Committee provided for in paragraph 1 of Article XXV of the Status of Forces Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Committee”) as the means for consultation between the Parties on all matters requiring mutual consultation regarding the implementation of the Status of Forces Agreement; and

 Convinced that enhanced cooperation with regard to implementation practices relating to the Civilian Component further contributes to achieving the objective of the Treaty and strengthening the Alliance;

ARTICLE 1

 The purpose of this Agreement is to enhance cooperation between the Parties with regard to implementation practices relating to the Civilian Component.

ARTICLE 2

 The Parties shall establish a Working Group within the framework of the Joint Committee.  Through the Working Group, the Parties shall retain the right to initiate consultations regarding implementation of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 3

 The Parties shall continue to cooperate fully, through the framework of the Joint Committee, to clarify the scope of the Civilian Component, which plays an essential role in fulfilling the United States’ obligations under the Treaty.

1. The United States Government will designate members of the Civilian Component consistent with the categories of persons that the Parties shall direct the Joint Committee to develop.

2. The Parties also shall direct the Joint Committee to develop criteria that the United States Government will use in evaluating contractor employee positions for eligibility to receive designation as members of the Civilian Component.  Such criteria are to be established so that those who are eligible to receive designation as members of the Civilian Component have skills or knowledge required for the accomplishment of mission requirements. 

ARTICLE 4

 Through the framework of the Joint Committee, the Parties also shall cooperate to strengthen mechanisms and procedures to ensure that persons ordinarily resident in Japan are excluded from being members of the Civilian Component.

ARTICLE 5

1. The Parties, through the framework of the Joint Committee, shall establish a procedure so that the Government of Japan is notified promptly of contractor employees who have been designated as members of the Civilian Component.  The Parties shall consult in the Working Group upon the request of either Party regarding such notification.

2. Upon the development of criteria as directed in Article 3, the United States Government is to establish and maintain procedures for formalized, regular reviews of contractor employees who are designated as members of the Civilian Component to ensure that they are in fact eligible for such status. 

3. The Parties, through the Working Group referred to in Article 2, shall establish procedures for regular reports regarding the Civilian Component.  The United States Government is to provide such reports to the Government of Japan.

ARTICLE 6

 If any dispute arises between the Parties relating to the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall settle it in accordance with the procedures for resolving matters set out in Article XXV of the Status of Forces Agreement.

ARTICLE 7

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature.

2. This Agreement shall remain in force as long as the Status of Forces Agreement remains in force.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Article, either Party may terminate this Agreement by giving one year’s written notice through diplomatic channels to the other Party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized for the purpose, have signed the present Agreement.

 DONE in duplicate at Tokyo in the Japanese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic, this sixteenth day of January 2017.




FOR THE GOVERNMENT   FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF JAPAN:     OF THE UNITED STATES
      OF AMERICA:

(Signed)                          (Signed)
Fumio Kishida                   Caroline Kennedy