Japan Press Weekly

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2016 May 25 - 31 [US FORCES]

Shii: US military’s training disrespect of Okinawans contributes to crimes by military personnel

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 26 introduced a document of the U.S. government to the press and criticized the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa for giving newcomers a training course which implants a disrespectful view toward local residents in their minds.

The document titled “Okinawa Culture Awareness Training” is used as a PowerPoint presentation in the USMC training for newcomers.

The JCP received the document from Welsh journalist Jon Mitchell who obtained it under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

The document represents the USMC’s stance of looking down on Okinawans. It states that public opinion in Okinawa tends to be more emotional than logical, employ double standards, and fail to take responsibility and initiative, with a pass-the-buck mentality. The document also states that Okinawa fully takes advantage of the guilt factor lying behind relations with the national government, and that Okinawans use the base issue for political leverage on a number of levels both locally and nationally.

The document also presents a false account, stating, “For many Okinawans, land rental payments are the sole source of income, and they do not want their land returned.”

Furthermore, in the document, the USMC vilifies Okinawa’s two major papers, the Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo, for providing an “inward and narrow focus” and promoting “anti-military propaganda”.

Pointing out that pre-reversion memories still dominate Okinawa, the document states that actual U.S. Forces per capita crime rates are very low but it is difficult for the U.S. side to argue against the perception held by Okinawans that crime rates are high.

Shii noted that in response to the recent arrest of an ex-U.S. marine, the Japanese government expressed its intention to request the U.S. side to enhance education for soldiers to prevent a recurrence. Shii stressed, “The USMC recruit training cultivates a mindset of looking down on Okinawans which in turn increase the likelihood of crimes by U.S. soldiers stationed in Okinawa.”

Shii went on to say, “If Prime Minister Abe Shinzo really intends to do everything possible to end U.S. crimes, he should order an immediate probe into the content of training manuals and urge the U.S. government to stop such misleading and discriminatory training.”

Past related article:
> Okinawans protest alleged murder of Japanese woman by ex-US marine