“Japan pays for all the expenses of having troops in Japan. Cost of living adjustments, housing allowances, fuel for vehicles and aircraft, and they do a pretty decent job of maintaining the bases.”
Great, what do we get out of it?
“Great, what do we get out of it?”
Uh, the end of WWII.
Germany and Japan were highly restricted after WWII regarding military.
The US has been keeping them safe (and the world safe from their aggression as well - What country started WWI?).
We need Japan as an ally and Japan needs US as an ally .
Fair enough?
Forward deployment bases in China’s and NK’s back yard. Bases which have allowed us to monitor the Soviets and now the Russians and Chinese. We have gotten a lot.