Silent rallies took place in Okinawa and Tokyo on Thursday as residents protested alleged sexual assaults by U.S. servicemen stationed in Okinawa prefecture.
Okinawa prefectural police said they referred two U.S. Marines, both in their 20s, to prosecutors this week on suspicion of separate sexual assaults against women.
About 30 residents stood in front of the prefectural government building in Naha, holding flowers and signs reading "Never tolerate sexual violence" and "We cannot turn a blind eye to this."
Megumi Kamiya, a rally participant, said she was outraged. "When I saw the news, I felt extremely angry, thinking, 'Not again?'"
Joint patrols by the U.S. military and local police began last week in Okinawa's entertainment districts, but residents say the effort falls short. "They were walking around chatting and laughing. It felt like just a performance," Kamiya added.
Meanwhile in Tokyo, around 30 supporters gathered outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding signs such as "Stop the U.S. military's crimes" and chanting slogans to amplify Okinawa's demands.
Organizer Masayuki Oku criticized Japan–U.S. security ties. "How can we call this security when the number of victims of sexual violence continues to rise?" he asked.
Local media report that three U.S. service members have been indicted since June last year in connection with sexual violence cases on the island.
Okinawa hosts 70% of all U.S. military bases in Japan while accounting for only 0.6% of the country's land area. This imbalance has fueled long-standing local grievances over crime, noise, and safety.
The protests underscore broader debates on how host communities navigate international alliances, a topic that resonates with young global citizens exploring the intersection of security, justice, and social impact across borders.
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Rallies against sexual assaults by U.S. servicemen held in Japan
cgtn.com
