May 27, 2016
Since the end of WWII, at least 1,600 Japanese people have been killed in crimes and accidents caused by U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, Akahata on May 27 reported based on government records.
According to documents that Japanese Communist Party parliamentarian Akamine Seiken obtained from the Defense Ministry, a total of 1,091 Japanese citizens were victimized in U.S. military-related incidents between FY1952, when the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect, and FY2015.
Akahata reports that most of the fatalities occurred in Okinawa, citing the fact that over 80% of the 1,091 cases happened before the reversion of Okinawa to Japan in May 1972.
The Defense Ministry says that it has no data covering the time period before 1952. Another document, which is believed to have been compiled by the Okinawa Prefectural government in 1983, shows that the lives of 574 Okinawans were claimed in crimes committed by U.S. servicemen during August 1945 and April 1952.
The number of victims in the above-mentioned two documents combined amounts to 1,665. This figure, however, includes only people whose bereaved families obtained compensation either from the U.S. occupation force or the Japanese authorities. The actual number is likely to be much higher, given that many families of victims in Okinawa were in no position to demand compensation because local residents’ rights were severely restricted before the 1972 reversion. In addition, it is still unknown how many people were victimized in criminal cases involving U.S. soldiers on mainland Japan between 1945 and 1952.
In order to prevent future tragedies, the Japanese and U.S. governments should conduct an investigation to clarify the whole picture of people who were killed in incidents caused by the U.S. military in Japan.
According to documents that Japanese Communist Party parliamentarian Akamine Seiken obtained from the Defense Ministry, a total of 1,091 Japanese citizens were victimized in U.S. military-related incidents between FY1952, when the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect, and FY2015.
Akahata reports that most of the fatalities occurred in Okinawa, citing the fact that over 80% of the 1,091 cases happened before the reversion of Okinawa to Japan in May 1972.
The Defense Ministry says that it has no data covering the time period before 1952. Another document, which is believed to have been compiled by the Okinawa Prefectural government in 1983, shows that the lives of 574 Okinawans were claimed in crimes committed by U.S. servicemen during August 1945 and April 1952.
The number of victims in the above-mentioned two documents combined amounts to 1,665. This figure, however, includes only people whose bereaved families obtained compensation either from the U.S. occupation force or the Japanese authorities. The actual number is likely to be much higher, given that many families of victims in Okinawa were in no position to demand compensation because local residents’ rights were severely restricted before the 1972 reversion. In addition, it is still unknown how many people were victimized in criminal cases involving U.S. soldiers on mainland Japan between 1945 and 1952.
In order to prevent future tragedies, the Japanese and U.S. governments should conduct an investigation to clarify the whole picture of people who were killed in incidents caused by the U.S. military in Japan.
