- cross-posted to:
- effort
- cross-posted to:
- effort
While I thought the protests against Narita Airport were unsuccessful, that is not entirely true. In fact, only 1 out of 3 planned runways have been fully built. While the airport is still trying to expand, resistance occurs even today.
To a bystander, this may look like a finished airport. It has a runway and terminals.
However, one might notice that that top runway is significantly shorter than the bottom one, and that the taxiways look a little off. This is one of the first signs that this airport was built against armed struggle.
![](https://hexbear.net/pictrs/image/977cb58b-a61a-472f-b8c4-0ce3309c887d.png)
![](https://hexbear.net/pictrs/image/ee234077-e5a7-4162-8b3a-101485022963.png)
Most importantly, the third runway was successfully blocked entirely. It would have been between the two runways, acting like a partial trapezoid. The third runway was blocked by a tower erected by residents called the Yokobori Pillars. This tower was destroyed recently, but the base remains, and like the shrine and the farm, appears to be publicly accessible.
![](https://hexbear.net/pictrs/image/5d5f000f-b78f-413c-8faf-a73953c59a40.png)
A house also blocks the runway, with the taxiway being built around it.
![](https://hexbear.net/pictrs/image/0c7a3586-1acf-42d8-a43f-63766ea763ed.png)
Even now, the airport is still heavily guarded by police and there have been several guerilla attacks since opening. I have heard rumors through translated comments that if you visit some of these locations you wind up on a watchlist.
I know an organizer that took part in those protests. He was handcuffed thrown on the ground and the cops stepped on his handcuffs so hard it drew blood. Amazing guy.