Okinawa gov. furious as US Marine arrested over indecent act following spate of sex crimes

Mainichi
July 6, 2024

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki expresses outrage after the arrest of a U.S. Marine for allegedly groping a local woman, at the prefectural government building in Naha on July 5, 2024. (Mainichi/Hiroshi Higa)

NAHA -- The governor of Okinawa Prefecture has once more expressed his anger over a series of recent sex crimes by U.S. servicemen after the July 4 arrest of a Marine in the prefecture for allegedly sexually assaulting a local woman.

Gov. Denny Tamaki stated at a regular press conference on July 5, "If there is a lack of thorough discipline within the U.S. military, it is a very serious situation, and I am furious."

The 22-year-old U.S. Marine Corps private first class was arrested on the scene after allegedly groping the breasts of a woman in her 20s on the stairs of a building in the prefectural capital city of Naha on the morning of July 4.

According to Tamaki, the Okinawa Defense Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Defense contacted the prefectural government about the incident. He reiterated the need for the early convening of a working team consisting of the Japanese, Okinawa prefectural and local municipal governments and the U.S. military to discuss measures to prevent similar offenses.

It was revealed in late June through media reports that U.S. servicemen had been accused of sexually assaulting women in the prefecture in December 2023 and May of this year. Although the investigating authorities provided information on the incidents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this was not conveyed to the prefectural government or the Ministry of Defense.

As to why the Foreign Ministry did not pass on the information, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi explained at a July 5 press conference, "Because the investigative authorities had not made it public." He announced that from now on, if the national government learns that U.S. military personnel has committed a sex crime in Okinawa Prefecture, it will contact local bodies including the prefectural government "without exception."

"In particular, we note that in Okinawa, where approximately 70% of all U.S. military facilities and areas in Japan are concentrated, it is necessary to promptly consider responses from the perspective of preventing crimes committed by U.S. military personnel," Hayashi said. "We will communicate information to local governments to the extent possible in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies."

In response to the national government's decision, Tamaki told reporters at the prefectural government headquarters, "It's a step forward." He added, "When making a final report to the prefectural government, I want (the Japanese government to) inform us of the U.S. military's efforts to prevent a recurrence."

(Japanese original by Hiroshi Higa, Naha Bureau; and Satoru Suzuki, Political News Department)