January 9, 2025

Akahata has learned that the Okinawa prefectural police on January 8 submitted to the Naha Public Prosecutors Office the case file on a U.S. Marine stationed in the prefecture for alleged nonconsensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury.

According to the prefectural authorities, the U.S. Marine in his 30s is suspected of sexually assaulting and injuring an adult woman whom he did not know while in a building on Okinawa’s main island in November 2024.

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny on the day in a comment stated that the incident is appalling, and that he feels strong indignation.

Tamaki pointed out that there have been five cases of sexual violence since the occurrence of the rape of an underage girl by a U.S. airman in December 2023. Stating that these heinous crimes have caused a sense of unease among the people of Okinawa, he expressed his intent to demand a firm response by the Japanese and U.S. governments.

In addition, the governor stressed that in light of the continuing reoccurrence of violent crimes involving U.S. military personnel, he has strong doubts about the effectiveness of the preventive measures taken by the U.S. military. He stated that in order to prevent recurrence, he will urge the U.S. forces to implement more effective measures, such as restricting U.S. servicemen from leaving their bases after midnight and tightening “liberty rules” which regulate off-base drinking and other behaviors by U.S. military personnel.

The head of the New Japan Women’s Association Okinawa chapter, Kudeken Sachiko, said that the latest incident made it clear that despite repeated local protests against U.S. soldiers’ crimes, the Japanese and U.S. governments take no action to prevent recurrence.