Reports indicate a recent surge in sexual assaults on Okinawa Island allegedly perpetrated by US military personnel.
Following a fifth reported sexual assault by a US Marine in just over a year, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, urged the US military on Okinawa to implement changes to prevent further sex crimes. The latest incident involved a serviceman in his 30s accused of raping and injuring a woman in November, sparking renewed concern among Okinawan residents. Okinawa hosts the majority of US military bases in Japan.
“We will press US forces in Japan to strengthen discipline and fully implement preventative measures,” Hayashi stated. He holds the ministerial portfolio for mitigating the impact of US forces in Okinawa.
According to a source, the assault allegedly occurred in a central Okinawan building. The victim immediately reported the incident to local police. Local media, citing a police spokesperson, reported that the accused serviceman has been referred to prosecutors for potential charges.
Under the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, US military personnel typically remain in US custody until formally charged in Japan, unless apprehended at the scene.
“Five serious and heinous crimes in the past year have disregarded the human rights and dignity of women,” Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki declared in a Wednesday statement, as quoted by local media. “I believe strong protests are necessary with both the Japanese and US governments,” he added.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent assaults against women in Okinawa. In December, a Japanese court found Senior Airman Brennon Washington guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl the previous year, sentencing him to five years of hard labor. He has appealed. In June, a Marine lance corporal faced indictment for attempted sexual assault, and in September, another Marine lance corporal was charged with injuring a woman during a sexual assault.
Opposition to the US military presence in Okinawa is significant, fueled by concerns about aircraft noise, pollution, and crimes committed by American personnel. Local residents expressed outrage last year when local media revealed the Japanese government’s failure to report two sexual assault cases involving US service members.
Police cited the need to protect victims’ privacy as the reason for non-disclosure.