Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Daniel Ditto drives his Toyota Chaser TRD on Suo-Oshima Island, Japan, April 8, 2023. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — Modified mufflers, the kind car enthusiasts install to let loose the sound of their engine exhaust, are on the most wanted list at this base south of Hiroshima.
Following an increase in noise complaints, MCAS Iwakuni announced a crackdown on automobiles out of compliance with Japanese law on modified exhaust systems, according to an email Friday from base spokesman Maj. Gerard Farao.
The base Provost Marshal’s Office is actively looking and listening for loud exhausts on base and plans gate inspections and traffic stops starting Aug. 16 to ensure compliance with the law, according to a July 15 post on the installation’s Facebook page.
“If a vehicle is found to be non-compliant with regulations, the driver will receive a Minor Offense Report,” Farao wrote in his email. “They will then be required to remove any illegal modifications to their vehicle to be in compliance with Japanese laws.”
Individual commands are encouraged to hold their own vehicle inspections before Aug. 15, according to the Facebook post.
“This is not a new base order or policy,” Farao said. “The enforcement is to ensure that all Marines, Sailors, and civilians on MCAS Iwakuni are in compliance with applicable Japanese laws, promote safe vehicles and safe driving, maintain good order and discipline, and ensure that we are good neighbors with the local community.”
Farao did not answer when asked July 15 if the Provost Marshal’s Office will use a decibel meter to measure exhaust noise levels during its inspections.
Three Marines told Stars and Stripes via Facebook Messenger last week that they won’t comply with the base muffler order. None wanted to be identified because they feared retaliation from their commands.
Owners of customized cars sometimes modify their exhaust to make the vehicles stand out; some do it to improve the car’s performance.
In Japan, drivers who add an aftermarket muffler must have their vehicle re-inspected, according to the requirements under the compulsory insurance law. The vehicle must also pass a Japanese Proximity Noise Check test, according to the base’s Facebook post.
All vehicles in Japan must undergo inspection every two years, a check that also looks for illegal modifications, according to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University website.
Iwakuni City Police receive complaints about loud vehicles, including some bearing the Y license plates that distinguish owners affiliated with the U.S. military, but they do not consider the problem a major issue, a city police traffic supervisor said by phone Thursday.
Some Japanese government officials may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.
If the car is very loud, even if idling, officers may stop to check it, he said.
A driver may be fined if police find the exhaust was illegally modified, the spokesman said.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
