Omoiyari Yosan (思いやり予算?, lit. sympathy budget), is a popular term for funds provided by Japan as host nation support for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan. The official term is Cost Sharing for the US Forces Stationed in Japan (在日米軍駐留経費負担, Zainichi Beigun Churyu Keihi Futan?). Although technically only covering the portion of financial support not mandated under the 1960 U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), it is popularly used to refer to Japanese support as a whole.
The term originates from comments made in 1978 by the then Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency, Shin Kanemaru, in defense of the Japanese government's decision to share financial responsibilities for the U.S. bases in Japan. When questioned about the expenditure, Kanemaru replied that they were provided out of "sympathy".
Read more about Omoiyari Yosan: Background, Origins of The Term, Expansion of The Budget and Current Status, Opposition, See Also