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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Infant dies of malnutrition, four martyrs killed by Israeli-made famine in past 24 hours.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: 12 martyrs and more than 90 wounded in Israeli shooting of aid seekers in central Gaza.
US President Donald Trump to Newsmax: Nuclear submarines are closer to Russia.
Hamas: Continuing negotiations amid starvation strips them of meaning and value
Hamas: We affirm our readiness to immediately re-engage in negotiations if aid reaches those in need and the humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza are resolved
Hamas: We call on the international community and all relevant parties to take immediate action to stop this mass massacre perpetrated by the enemy
Hamas: The occupation's starvation war in Gaza has reached an unbearable level and poses the greatest threat to the lives of more than two million Palestinians
The Humanitarian Coordination Center in Sanaa: If these companies do not end cooperation, their vessels, regardless of their destination, will be targeted anywhere
The Humanitarian Coordination Center in Sanaa: The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all companies to stop dealing with Israeli ports
The Humanitarian Coordination Center in Yemen issues a notice to ship owners, managers, and operators, warning against the risks of dealing with Israeli ports

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

Given ample indications Epstein was collating sexual blackmail material on powerful figures for intelligence agencies, comments made by Mirage's cofounder to Ynet take on a chilling character. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Zionist spies innovate AI sexual blackmail tech

  • Analysis
  • 27 Jul 2025
A screengrab from footage showing al-Qassam targeting Israeli occupation vehicles in northern and western Beit Lahia, November 13, 2024. (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

Israeli APCs burn as al-Qassam target occupation forces in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 26 Jul 2025
A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Trump-Medvedev nuclear standoff escalates with US submarine deployment
Politics

Trump-Medvedev nuclear standoff escalates with US submarine deployment

Borrell slams EU's response to Gaza genocide as 'bad joke'
Europe

Borrell slams EU's response to Gaza genocide as 'bad joke'

Hamas condemns Trump for perpetuating Israeli lies
Palestine

Trump accusations of aid theft 'baseless, perpetuate lies': Hamas

Destruction of residential buildings by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces 300 billion shekel cost from Gaza war operations

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