In the continuing sex crimes by US servicemen, the people of Okinawa Prefecture cry out, “What? again?” and “Another cover-up!”, with the Prefectural Assembly in an uproar and protests even across party lines. (29jn24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Lantana: roadside Futenma, 28jn24


In Okinawa Prefecture, a young girl has been sexually assaulted. It came to light on 28 June, that there had been a new rape by a US Military serviceman.


Outrage erupted in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and among the prefectural people that harm had been inflicted on a female victim. As in prior such incidents, there was no notification given to the Prefecture and that further spread the uproar across party lines.


Immediately on the opening of the Prefectural Assembly on 28 June, a Special Committee on US Bases was set up. Furthermore, the discussion of a proposal for resolutions and opinions on a  letter of protest to be issued to both the US and Japanese Governments was initiated. That letter is expected to be issued, crossing lines of party factions, both liberal and conservative,. After explanations by the leadership, the arrangement of the wording will proceed quickly.


Liberal Democratic Party Prefectural (LDP) Federation Chairman and Assembly Member Dai Shimabukuro emphasized, “In speaking for the administration’s ruling party, I have to speak for the protection of the lives and property of our prefecture’s residents. The response of our Foreign Ministry in failing to notify the Prefecture was deplorable! It had better change its approach.”


On 29 June, LDP Prefectural Federation Assembly members requested Foreign Ministry Ambassador for Okinawa Manabu Miyagawa to share information and such on incidents and accidents involving US soldiers.


Assembly Member Sueko Yamauchi, faction chief of Governor Denny Tamaki’s support faction, stated, “If there were a policy of information sharing, I wonder if we could have prevented such crimes. In addition to notification, there ought also be measures to protect privacy.”


Voices of anger arose among prefectural residents as well. A Naha City part-time public employee (44) noted, “Since these sex crimes happen over and over, I get the feeling of ‘What, again?’ The victim’s privacy is paramount, but, if the Prefecture were promptly notified, the prefecture’s residents could probably get an alert call.”


A farmer (58) from the Naha area stated, “Isn’t there also a lot of damage that never rise to the surface? Stuff gets covered up intentionally by the Government and investigative agencies. I don’t have any feeling that they  will really put any effort into preventing a recurrence.”


Crimes by those related to the US Military just keep happening. According to the Prefecture, between January and May,  an estimated 28 incidents of criminal offenses (33 individuals) by US Military servicemen or those connected to the Military. Of those 5 were heinous crimes (4 individuals), 3 were crimes of non-consensual sex including criminal injury  (3 individuals), and 2 robberies including one attempt (1 individual).


There was another incident of the crime of non-consensual sex against an adult woman, but it was not prosecuted.


Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun, published Saturday 29 June at 10:08.   https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cc2ba0f432d85c3a74d6de8c6ccce79104722f7b


Denny in the News:

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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