Protests in Japan against sexual assaults by U.S. servicemen
The protests erupted following a statement from Okinawa prefectural police on Wednesday indicating that they have referred two U.S. Marines, both in their 20s, to prosecutors under suspicion of committing separate sexual assaults against women.
TroibNews 
On Thursday, protests took place in both Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, and Tokyo to voice opposition against the sexual assaults on girls and women by U.S. servicemen stationed in Okinawa.
The demonstrations were sparked by reports from the Okinawa prefectural police, who announced on Wednesday that they had referred two U.S. Marines, both in their 20s, to prosecutors on suspicion of committing separate sexual assaults against women.
Approximately 30 residents assembled in silence outside the Okinawa prefectural government, carrying flowers and displaying signs with messages such as "Never tolerate sexual violence" and "We cannot turn a blind eye to this."
Megumi Kamiya, one of the rally participants, remarked, "When I saw the news, I felt extremely angry, thinking, 'Not again?'"
Kamiya expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of recent measures implemented to prevent sexual crimes involving American military personnel, noting that U.S. military and local police had begun joint patrols in Okinawa's entertainment districts the previous Friday. "The patrol people were walking around chatting and laughing. It seemed like it was just a performance," she added.
Meanwhile, around 30 individuals gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo to support the Okinawa protesters. They held signs featuring slogans like "Stop the U.S. military's crimes" and "Listen to the Voice of Okinawa," vocally articulating their demands.
Masayuki Oku, one of the organizers, spoke passionately into the microphone, saying, "How can we call this Japan-U.S. security when the number of victims of sexual violence continues to increase?"
Local media reported that three U.S. service members have been indicted as part of several alleged sexual violence cases in Okinawa since June of the previous year.
Okinawa is home to 70 percent of all U.S. military bases in Japan, despite occupying only 0.6 percent of the nation’s total land area. The crimes committed by U.S. service members and nonmilitary personnel have long been a source of discontent among local residents.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
The demonstrations were sparked by reports from the Okinawa prefectural police, who announced on Wednesday that they had referred two U.S. Marines, both in their 20s, to prosecutors on suspicion of committing separate sexual assaults against women.
Approximately 30 residents assembled in silence outside the Okinawa prefectural government, carrying flowers and displaying signs with messages such as "Never tolerate sexual violence" and "We cannot turn a blind eye to this."
Megumi Kamiya, one of the rally participants, remarked, "When I saw the news, I felt extremely angry, thinking, 'Not again?'"
Kamiya expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of recent measures implemented to prevent sexual crimes involving American military personnel, noting that U.S. military and local police had begun joint patrols in Okinawa's entertainment districts the previous Friday. "The patrol people were walking around chatting and laughing. It seemed like it was just a performance," she added.
Meanwhile, around 30 individuals gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo to support the Okinawa protesters. They held signs featuring slogans like "Stop the U.S. military's crimes" and "Listen to the Voice of Okinawa," vocally articulating their demands.
Masayuki Oku, one of the organizers, spoke passionately into the microphone, saying, "How can we call this Japan-U.S. security when the number of victims of sexual violence continues to increase?"
Local media reported that three U.S. service members have been indicted as part of several alleged sexual violence cases in Okinawa since June of the previous year.
Okinawa is home to 70 percent of all U.S. military bases in Japan, despite occupying only 0.6 percent of the nation’s total land area. The crimes committed by U.S. service members and nonmilitary personnel have long been a source of discontent among local residents.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
