Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Two US marines accused of rape in Japan's Okinawa

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Apr 2025 10:23
3 Min Read

Two US marines are under investigation for rape in Okinawa, intensifying anger over crimes tied to the island’s heavy US base presence.

  • x
  • Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo, June 28, 2024 over sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers, Okinawa, Japan (Kyodo News/AP)Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo, June 28, 2024, over sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers, Okinawa, Japan. (Kyodo News/AP)

Two US marines in Okinawa are under investigation for alleged rapes, the latest in a series of assaults angering locals on the island, home to most of Japan's 54,000 US troops.

"A US marine in his 20s is suspected of raping a Japanese woman at an American military base in March, and is also suspected of injuring another woman," a local police official told the Agence-France Presse (AFP).

The second marine, who is also in his 20s, is suspected of raping a Japanese woman at a US military base in January, according to an official familiar with the matter. Both cases involving the marines have now been formally referred to prosecutors for further legal action. In response to the investigations, US Ambassador George Glass stated that Washington will "fully" cooperate with Japanese authorities to ensure that justice is served per the law.

"We deeply value the ties of trust and friendship we have built over many decades with our Japanese hosts, and I am committed to doing everything I can to prevent actions that may jeopardise these bonds," he said in a statement.

The incident

On Friday, US service members, Japanese officials, and Okinawa residents held their first joint nighttime patrol since 1973, following a series of sexual assault cases involving American servicemen, including a 21-year-old marine charged with rape last June and a 25-year-old soldier accused of assaulting a girl under 16.

Related News

Israeli prosecutor confirms no rape charges from Oct.7 operation filed

Hamas denounces Human Rights Watch report of biased Oct. 7 narrative

The alleged rape in March took place in a restroom, where the woman injured was trying to stop the assault on the other woman, Japanese media said, citing police sources.

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki called the latest cases "deplorable" and said authorities would urge the US military to prevent similar incidents, Japanese media reported.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the cases at a regular briefing Thursday, but said crimes by US troops were "unacceptable".

History of tension over US troops in Okinawa

Relations between Okinawans and US bases have a history of tension.

The 1995 gang rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US soldiers in Okinawa sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls to reassess the 1960 pact permitting US troop presence in Japan.

Just last year, as many as 80 US military-linked individuals were charged with crimes in Okinawa, police said. 

In July of 2024, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel expressed regret over two sexual assault cases involving US military personnel in Okinawa, including a US Air Force member charged with assaulting a teenager and a marine accused of attempted rape, according to the Associated Press (AP).

At the time, Emanuel called for better training and transparency, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed strong concern about the lack of timely information and Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki condemned the alleged crimes and criticized the delay in publicizing them.

  • rape allegations
  • Japan
  • sexual assault
  • Okinawa
  • US military bases
  • US Marines

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS