Governor Denny Tamaki comments, “Absolutely despicable!” on revelation of non-consensual sex by US Marines. (24ap25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Silver Trumpet Tree, roadside Futenma, 9mr25


Sexual assaults on adult women by US troops in Okinawa are continuing with 2 incidents revealed already this year. Okinawa Prefectural Police have filed charges with prosecutors on 2 US Marines suspected of non-consensual sex with a 20 year old woman.


On news of the incident on 23 April, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki issued his comment, “It is disgraceful that even one crime or accident should occur by those connected to the US Military. The very occurrence of this sort of problem is absolutely deplorable!” Since December of 2023, in the Prefecture there have been 7 incidents of sexual assault crimes forwarded to prosecutors, but only 3 of them have been prosecuted .


Although Governor Tamaki has requested an appropriate response from both the Japanese and US Governments, the US Military side has emphasized the necessity of a revision of its training curriculum, thorough education of troops, and a tightening of its “Liberty System”, which governs departure from base facilities and off-base eating and drinking. The governor claimed, “We’re requesting the actual carrying out of stronger, more effective measures!”  


Evidently, incidents of sexual assault crimes by US troops in Okinawa have continued on since last year. With the prevention of recurrences borne in mind, from the evening of 18 April to the early hours of 19 April, the US Military, Prefectural Police, the Prefecture,  and others carried out joint US-Japan patrols, marching along the downtown bar districts of Okinawa City. 


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Wednesday 23 April 2025 at 23:50

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/57008c2073a31e3d137129606cb580a55e0cdeb5


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 the 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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