TOKYO – Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has strongly criticized the Japanese national government for withholding information from the Okinawan prefectural government about recent sexual assaults involving U.S. military personnel, citing concerns over protecting victims’ privacy.
Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) on Aug. 7, Tamaki discussed a Dec. 24, 2023 incident in which a 25-year-old U.S. Air Force serviceman allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted a minor, as well as a separate May 2024 sexual assault case involving a 21-year-old U.S. Marine. He revealed that the Okinawa Prefectural Government only learned of these incidents through local media months later, despite formal protests from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
“In regard to these kinds of incidents and such a process, we see two main problems,” Tamaki stated.
“The first is the despicable crimes committed by U.S. military personnel. These vicious crimes, which disrespect both human rights and the dignity of women, must not be tolerated. The second issue is the fact that there was no information reported from either the national government or local police to the Okinawa Prefectural Government,” he continued.
Tamaki protested to Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and demanded measures to prevent such incidents from recurring and to ensure they are thoroughly reported to the Okinawa Prefectural Government.
Under the notification procedures agreed upon by the U.S.-Japan Joint Committee in 1997, the Japanese national government is required to promptly inform the Okinawa Prefectural Government of any incidents or accidents involving U.S. military or related personnel.
“We can imagine that it’s possible, and it’s fairly likely that when this information reached the Japanese national government, they were thinking about what steps to take and how to avoid any damage to the U.S.-Japan relationship. We imagine this was on their minds,” Tamaki told the Filipino-Japanese Journal.
“However, I personally believe that because this incident did occur, it is important to ensure that such a thing is never allowed to happen again. The responsibility to convey what happened to the people is shared by Japan, the U.S., Okinawa and the prefectural police. Informing the people would actually contribute to maintaining a healthier relationship between Japan and the U.S,” he added.
The Okinawan leader noted that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi presented a proposed information-sharing system for crimes committed by the U.S. forces in Japan, which emphasizes protecting victim privacy and sharing information with local authorities “to the extent possible.” However, he stressed that for Okinawa Prefecture, it is necessary to share information “not just to the extent possible,” but promptly after the incident.
Since Okinawa’s return to Japan in 1972 until the end of last year, there have been 6,235 criminal cases involving U.S. military personnel and related individuals. Of these, 586 were for violent offenses, including murder and rape, while 80 involved sexual offenses, such as indecent assault.
“We can see that there is no end to the number of incidents involving U.S. military personnel,” Tamaki remarked.
“As governor of Okinawa Prefecture, I hold the responsibility to protect the lives, property, security, and safety of the people. It is important for me to demand to the U.S. military and both the Japanese and U.S. governments to take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents as soon as possible after they occur,” he said.
Tamaki plans to visit the U.S. in September to appeal directly to the government, including the Departments of State and Defense, members of Congress, and the public, to address the need for resolving various issues faced by Okinawa.
Okinawa hosts approximately 70.3% of the total area of U.S. facilities in Japan, which, according to the governor, significantly impacts local development and the living environment in the southernmost prefecture. - Florenda Corpuz
