Photo/Illutration Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki, right, hands a letter of protest to Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on July 3 in Tokyo regarding suspected sexual assault cases by U.S. servicemen. (Shino Matsuyama)

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki lodged a strong protest at the Foreign Ministry on July 3 in Tokyo amid a series of suspected sexual assault cases involving U.S. service members in the prefecture. 

These incidents have sparked outrage and concern over the handling and disclosure of information related to such incidents. 

“These are despicable crimes, serious and malicious acts that trample on women's human rights and dignity,” Tamaki told Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. “They are absolutely unforgivable.”

He criticized the government for failing to notify prefectural officials of the incidents, saying, “It is a very serious problem in that we were unable to take any action.”

He demanded measures to prevent a recurrence.

Kamikawa said, “We need to thoroughly reconsider how information is shared with local governments.” 

Tamaki also met with Vice Defense Minister Makoto Oniki and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shunichi Kuryu, delivering a similar message and demands.

A wave of protests has erupted in Okinawa following the revelation that a 25-year-old U.S. Air Force serviceman has been charged with having non-consensual sex with a minor under the age of 16, and a 21-year-old U.S. Marine has been charged with causing injury to a woman through non-consensual sex.

The Okinawa prefectural police and the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office did not disclose the cases, citing the protection of the victims' privacy.

Upon learning of the incidents, the Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with the U.S. ambassador to Japan.

However, it failed to notify the Okinawa prefectural government of the crimes.

According to an agreement between the Japanese and U.S. governments, the U.S. military reports crimes and accidents committed by its members to the U.S. Embassy in Japan, which then notifies the Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry should then report the incidents to the Defense Ministry’s Okinawa bureau, which will inform Okinawa’s prefectural and municipal governments.

However, in the two recent cases, the Foreign Ministry failed to make a report to the Defense Ministry.

(This article was written by Taro Ono, Shino Matsuyama and Shohei Sasagawa.)

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