September 7, 2022

The Zushi City Assembly (Kanagawa Pref.) on September 6 unanimously adopted a resolution in protest against random assaults committed by a U.S. serviceman, demanding that the U.S. military strengthen discipline and offer apologies and compensation to the victims.

On July 9 near Zushi beach, a U.S. soldier assigned to the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base attacked and injured five people one after another. However, it is reported that within three hours of his capture, he was released and then was placed in the custody of someone from the base.

The resolution criticizes the crime for plunging not only the victims but also Zushi citizens into terror and anxiety, and demands that U.S. personnel in Japan abide by Japanese laws and voluntarily refrain from going to Zushi beach.

Japanese Communist Party assemblymember Hashizume Akiko said, "The city has beefed up its patrols to make the beach safe and secure for families. The incident is undermining this effort. I hope the soldier will be arrested as soon as possible."