New FM Radio Station Delivers Essential Comfort to U.S. Service Members in Sasebo

On June 4, 2025, the American Forces Network flipped the switch on 93.1 FM in Sasebo, Japan, bringing FM radio to U.S. military personnel for the first time in over seven decades. The station delivers a mix of American music, news, and vital safety alerts, offering a touch of home to service members stationed in southern Japan.

This launch represents years of effort and collaboration. Beyond serving the base, the station’s signal reaches nearby Japanese communities, creating a unique link between U.S. forces and local residents through shared airwaves.

The path to FM began in 2014 when Sasebo’s aging AM tower started failing. By 2017, it was gone, forcing AFN to rely on its streaming platform, AFN Go. Scott Williams, deputy director of AFN-Pacific, called the shift to FM a creative solution born of necessity. Early trials with small AM antennas faltered as base buildings blocked signals.

With support from U.S. Forces Japan and the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the team overcame regulatory and technical barriers. Japan’s rugged terrain complicated signal testing, but months of adjustments scaled the transmitter from 50 to 300 watts. Kenneth Burton, who leads AFN-Pacific’s technical team, highlighted Japan’s cooperative role in navigating spectrum rules, a rare feat in a tightly controlled market.

For service members, 93.1 FM is a game-changer. It delivers command updates, weather forecasts, and typhoon warnings, essential in a region vulnerable to natural disasters. Capt. Michael Fontaine, commander of Fleet Activities Sasebo, noted that the clear FM signal reaches housing areas, ensuring families stay informed during emergencies.

The station also lifts spirits. Familiar music and news provide comfort, reinforcing connections to home. Studies on military broadcasting show that combining FM, satellite, and streaming has boosted content access by 50 percent, improving morale for troops globally.

Local Japanese residents, drawn to American pop culture, also tune in, forming a ‘shadow audience.’ Williams shared an anecdote about a Fukuoka resident traveling 100 kilometers to catch the station’s test broadcasts. This echoes AFN’s historical role, when its music brought jazz and rock to post-war Asia and Europe, building goodwill.

Some view AFN as a channel for cultural exchange, sharing transparent information and values. Others see it as a tool for military readiness, sustaining morale and countering false narratives. Both agree it deepens U.S.-Japan ties, fostering mutual understanding through media.

Sasebo’s success paves the way for FM stations at Iwakuni and Misawa. Advances like AI-driven radios and drone relays, tested in the Indo-Pacific, promise even stronger communication networks, keeping troops connected in challenging environments.

The base community rallied behind the project, with leaders offering resources and applause during updates. The launch event on June 4, 2025, celebrated a shared victory, rooted in years of persistence.

AFN’s mission to ‘bring home’ to service members endures. Sasebo’s new station shows how a radio signal can unite people, from troops seeking familiarity to locals curious about American life, proving the power of connection in a complex world.