"I imagine most countries would just use eminent domain" Japan also did it in this case in general, but not everywhere. Because having a law and enforcing a la

"I imagine most countries would just use eminent domain" Japan also did it in this case in general, but not everywhere. Because having a law and enforcing a law is not the same - because there was determined resistance of all kinds. And by law they could have also expropriated that land, but that would have sparked more violent opposition. Apparently letting this farm as it is, was one of the compromises to have the airport at all, without riot police guarding it 24/7.