Gosh, I hope she's chaste, just so, you know, we can be sure it was actually rape. (Cue eye roll.)

Sad though it is to say it -- what else is new?

For ages now, the US has imposed "Status of Forces Agreements" ("SOFAs") on countries that "host" US troops, that make it nearly impossible for people in those countries to get simple justice in cases like this.

Anyone interested should read any or all of three books by Chalmers Johnson: Blowback; The Sorrows of Empire, and Nemesis.

The US has apologized, so that makes everything all better. It's much better than actually charging the man. /snark

The BBC headline about the apology has rape in scarequotes. Lovely.

And this is the best part: "The US points out its military has what it calls zero tolerance for sexual assault."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

If you read the news articles about this incident, the guy sounds like a real predator. He went to a local ice cream shop and approached three teenage girls. He convinces one to accept a ride home, but then takes her back to his house instead. When she flees, he calms her down, and again promises a ride. She gets in the van, but quickly realizes that she is in real danger. She called a male friend, but by the time they found her, she had already been raped and left on the side of the road.

His only excuses seem to be that he didn't know she was underage, and his claim that he didn't rape her, just shove her down a force a kiss on her.

THIS is the type of man that we have representing America? o.0

I didn't know the details. That is so disturbing. My heart goes out to the girl.

What an arsshole. How typical.

I agree Geek that IS DISTURBING!!! Arrested? They better charge him! People like him make me sick to my stomach! Didn't know she was underage? What does that have to do with the fact that he raped her? She could have been 18 years old, and it still would have been rape! Rape is rape no matter the age, where you are, time, or anything! These people deserve justice for the issues that are going on there. It's great that those women wrote that letter in protest! I hope Bush actually listens...I know I am kind of rambling on and on, but, uh!!!

This really breaks my heart. I spent a lovely wonderful month in Okinawa Japan with my boyfriend and his parents.

My boyfriend and most of his friends grew up there (on military bases) and we've often discussed the benefits of raising children there (not on military bases) as opposed to here in America. Growing up, they didn't know any girls who were raped, any houses that were robbed, and any access to drugs.

It makes me very sad to see Okinawa changing - and it's entirely the fault of Americans. It went from being the island where people lived the longest to the place with the highest levels of obesity and diabetes in Japan thanks to the introduction of American fast food and restaurants.

The military needs to hold its servicemen and women responsible for their actions in other countries - particularly in completely nonviolent ones that we really have no business being in any longer.

Many of the bars and nightclubs in Okinawa don't allow Americans into their facilities for reasons like this rape case. (By Americans they really mean no American military, my boyfriend and I were able to get into Japanese-only clubs because we're obviously not military).

actually space, crime rates in japan as a whole are increasing, some fascinating articles out there on why. this is a tragic story and it is my hope that the serviceman is held accountable for his actions. this is definitely a case where it is deserved. as far as status of forces agreements as mentioned above, there is a reason for them and they do allow us to do things we need to do but hopefully this will fall outside of that.

we do have business in japan and their leadership does not want us to leave. it will be interesting to see how the rise of china will effect that dynamic, especially given the hatred japan and china share for each other.

I have been following this story on my Japanese web sites.

Allegedly (I do not know for sure) in response to past criminal activity, sexual assault and rape in particular, personnel who live on base are subject to a curfew to keep them on base at night. This man was not subject to that curfew because he lived off base.

There is no excuse for crimes like these, but in my opinion, this curfew has been effective in preventing some crime by personnel against local residents. According to Kyodo News, one of the national news agencies, there were 46 personnel arrested in Okinawa Prefecture last year, down from 133 in 2003. This is out of a US military population of 50,000. Statistically, that is good. How many crimes actually occur on base or in the community, I cannot say.

Again, there is no excuse for crimes like this by US service members, particularly against local Japanese, and ideally, such crimes against civilians would be handled by the Japanese authorities, but I would just like everyone to be aware how much of a political issue this is. People from every side of the issue jump on incidents like this in Japan. Some politicians are not able to show the proper outrage, because they feel the need for the US military to be based in Japan, no matter what, because they are indeed aware of the presence of China and North Korea. Others who would like the Americans out of Japan (or at least out of their community) will use this crime, and I mean use, as another opportunity to soapbox. The military will naturally feel the need to cover their asses making vague apologies to stay in good graces with the national and local government (but only the national government has the authority to move or remove the military bases). Despite living hundreds of miles away and having no connection to the US military, Japanese used to bash on me and others for being American too, whenever things like this make the spotlight. About as logical as white Americans hating on local tourists or Japanese-Americans if the yakuza commit crime.

Here's the ass kissing and hoping to remain in good graces:

U.S. ambassador apologizes to Okinawa governor over alleged rape of schoolgirl

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080213p2a00m0na040000c.html

"Following the meeting, Schieffer told reporters that the United States will place priority on getting to the bottom of the incident."

"He expressed hope that the incident will not adversely affect the planned relocation of U.S. Futenma Air Station in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Ginowan to nearby Nago."

Here's the soapboxing, and USING of the issue:

Editorial: Enough violent crimes from U.S. military in Okinawa

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080213p2a00m0na028000c.html

Again, this is an unforgivable crime, but many Japanese believe that the US government or military has it within its power to prevent EVERY SINGLE CRIME committed by its 50,000 US service members in Okinawa (100,000 nationwide), and believe even one crime (like this one) means the US should get out of the community or the entire country. Life is not that simple. Also, the Japanese media promotes (by omission) the fallacious notion that the only crime in Okinawa is committed by US service members, and against local Japanese, ignoring such as local rapes and abduction/gang rape by Japanese males. Many Japanese believe such lies.

Ah, the latest round of racism begins:

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/427974

[Japanese] Gov't to consider security cameras in areas near U.S. bases
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 15:15 EST

"As part of its own efforts to prevent such incidents, the government started considering installing security cameras in downtown and other areas near U.S. bases in Japan depending on approval by local authorities."

Because as Japanese know, only US service personnel commit crime, and are the only ones who need monitoring.

You should understand the apologies in light of the Japanese culture. In Japanese culture, such apologies are expected and considered polite. They are not considered to be an admission of guilt, as they are in the United States. In that light, it is perfectly proper for the American ambassador to offer apologies. The Japanese would likely be very offended if apologies were not offered.

This rape was obviously a terrible thing. The details of the article indicate that he is currently in the serviceman is currently being held by the Japanese authorities, and I am sure that he will be appropriately prosecuted. Although the US military has tried to prevent its troops from being subject to local law enforcement in many countries, in Japan, the local authorities may arrest and imprison American servicemen. This change in agreement was part of the fall out from the 1995 rape case.

However, this will also certainly be used to justify more of the common anti-foreigner racism which exists in Japan. Although most Japanese people are friendly, welcoming, and not racist, there is a significant minority who are xenophobic or want only foreign tourists and not foreigners living in Japan. Many nightclubs, bars, baths, and other places of public accommodation either ban foreigners or charge foreigners higher rates. In most prefectures, this practice violates the law, but authorities are often slow to act on complaints. The most common factor cited in the bans, or especially in the rate differences, when they are challenged is foreigner's greater likelihood of being criminals.

This is certainly a brutal crime, but it is being played up in the Japanese media because it was an American raping a Japanese girl. If a Japanese man had raped an American servicewoman, it would not have been news. It is similar to how in the US, historically, stories of black men raping white women were news and stories of white men raping black women were ignored.

I do not condone the attack, but I think that care should be taken in posting and discussing such things that the racist biases of the Japanese media not be reflected by this blog, which I know does not share those biases.

I am aware of those things after 12 years in Japan, with a language level ability that allowed me to work as the only foreigner in an office of 32, or to observe media in the native language, Keith.

This blog does not have an anti-American bias, but observe the many comments about the US military itself. There are many issues that would interest feminists in Japan. If they, like the Japanese media, choose to focus on crimes against women by US servicemen, and I mean men, then here is a sample:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080213p2a00m0na034000c.html

Record of postwar fatalities and sex crimes caused by US military in Okinawa

"Here is a short timeline of fatal crimes, incidents and sex attacks that members of the United States military forces have committed in Okinawa since the end of World War II in 1945."

There on on average, IIRC, 100 reported incidents or arrests per year, for crimes by US service personnel against Japanese.

A male, Japanese people might have good reason to resent Americans. I'll tell you what, there are a lot of countries where white English-speakers get a cold welcome until and unless established as not American.

As for Japan... I dunno, I'd be pretty resentful still being occupied 60 years after the war. Especially since I personally think 133 crimes (what, maybe 100 of them sex crimes?) out of 50,000 is pretty damn bad. Say that's ~0.2%. 0.2% of the whole US population is ~ 60 MILLION rapists. Does that number bother you? Oh, and the idea that locking them in at night halves the number sort of disgusts me, as it doesn't really sound like "fixing" the problem.

Japan attacked the "neutral" US. The US used the first atom bomb on Japan. Japan was vilified for a long time. It is still held over them.

This is kind of a recipe for bitterness. Funny that.

I am quite serious about this. If you want to talk about crimes by US service members, I am game.

One serious complaint about crimes by US service members, is that the US military has custody of those accused of crimes against Japanese civilians, and is not required to turn over those accused of crime, until indictment by Japanese authorities has been issued. (IIRC, even this handover only applies to "serious" crimes such as murder or rape.) Also, Japanese authorities are not allowed onto bases to conduct investigation without permission of US authorities. This was problematic during the search for the body of a Japanese civilian suspected murdered by an American.

Even this was a "compromise" from the natural demand by Japanese that US service members accused of crime off base be turned over immediately to Japanese authorities for investigation and possible arrest. Prior to the changes in procedure, Japanese complained that the US military could not be trusted to mete out justice through its own system of courts martial, and there have been reports of US service members accused of crime simply being transferred out of the country, escaping justice, civilian or otherwise. This part at least, I am sure many Feministing readers are familiar with.

One other interesting factor is that when conviction does occur, it has been argued that the US system of courts martial hands down a longer sentence than the Japanese legal system would, for the same crime, such as rape. The Japanese police and legal system are usually not very serious about rape (among Japanese). Nationwide, "only" about 1,500 rapes are reported to authorities per year, in a population of 127 million, and the crime of marital rape is not recognized.

"Japanese people might have good reason to resent Americans."

Of course they do, particularly in the regions affected by war, or around US military bases today. Okinawa is both. No one here needs to teach me about the history between the US and Japan. As a Japanese-American who lived 12 years in Japan, and studies culture, I am often caught in the middle. Fortunately the last time I was called Jap in anger was 24 years ago at age 14.

"0.2% of the whole US population is ~ 60 MILLION rapists. Does that number bother you?"

Yes, most of all because your math is incorrect. 0.2% means multiply by 0.002. Also, your immediate assumption that 100% of crimes against Japanese by US military are sex crimes. No, there are also murders, hit and runs, robbery, assaults, theft, weapons charges, running off without paying taxi fares, etc., just like anywhere else. Would you care to reflect upon this perception of yours?

***Do you see what I am dealing with, KeithIrwin? This is precisely what I mean when it comes to talking about the US military on Feministing***

0.2% of 301 million Americans would be about 600,000 arrests, which is much fewer than we actually have. As a matter of fact there are about 14 MILLION arrests in the US in 2005, according to the FBI, and 1,390,695 violent crimes. In other words, THE US MILITARY IN OKINAWA IS LESS LIKELY than the US general population, to commit crime. LESS. Despite being nearly 100% single young hot blooded males professionally trained to fight and kill, and probably drink and pick up local women for fun. Can you see the problem with your perception, or that of the Japanese now?

This is no excuse for rape or other crimes against their gracious hosts, but consider a 66% reduction in arrests or crime against civilians between 2003 and 2007. Can Australia claim such a reduction in arrests or crime? Does Australia have a 0.2% arrest rate for crime? Please run the numbers. Is the US military in Okinawa more or less criminally inclined, than Australian people?

Do you get my point, or do you think I am a crime/rape apologist sticking up for poor Americans in Japan?

BTW, I have been to Okinawa, specifically to *study* the war issue, and the effect of the US military bases, as part of the faculty of a Japanese public junior high school. Be certain that I have heard tales of horrors of war or American crime no one here has ever heard, direct from survivors and other locals. Said it to my face with voices shaking in anger, with crying teachers and children all around me.

I also lived for 12 years in Japan, in Hiroshima (yes, that Hiroshima, that is where my family came from 106 years ago), and be certain that Japanese school children are taught aaaaaaaaaall about how their country suffered during the war, particularly Hiroshima children. Again, I saw it from the inside as a teacher, who attended history class with the children, just to hear it for myself. This aside from all my personal study and reading.

Why is the U.S. military in Japan?

Has anyone else grown tired of seeing a commenter called "A male" dominate half the threads on this website?

Anyway, every day I am more ashamed of the "brave young men" we have representing us around the world.

"Why is the U.S. military in Japan?"

Today, the US military remains in Japan as a hub for rapid deployment to the Middle East, and to Asia for possible conflict (since Vietnam), as well as a show of force against current concerns such as China and North Korea, which have uneasy relations with Japan due to its wartime history. Japan, though Article 9 of its Constitution, does not have a formal military or military hardware capable of military aggression ever again. The Self Defense Force, formed to defend the homeland while the US was busy during the Vietnam era, is defensive in nature, and its simple existence, as well as its future role, has been a source of debate. SDF assistance in Iraq is the first time they have been deployed overseas other than for training, as in RIMPAC exercises in Hawaii.

"Has anyone else grown tired of seeing a commenter called "A male" dominate half the threads on this website?"

Not that many, perhaps one in ten, but I agree it is odd myself. I have seen how I am often the last poster in threads. You may make any complaints to Ms. Valenti directly about my presence, or my behavior. I have given her permission to give people my email for any personal communication about your concerns, as well as acknowledgment that I may be banned at any time for behavior past and present. I am not particularly proud of myself. BTW, the time I spend on Feministing is not my only time to read about issues, and I do have a desire to learn.

"Anyway, every day I am more ashamed of the "brave young men" we have representing us around the world."

I am certainly ashamed of those who behave poorly, and those accused of behaving poorly, much less those who commit crime. I have encountered many military men in Hiroshima, from the nearby Iwakuni Marine base. If not for the utility of Japanese bases at this time, I personally favor the US military being removed from Japan, to spare them the burden. At the very least, they should be removed from Okinawa, where they take up 20% of the main island, prime real estate and naturally undeveloped land. I believe it was 75% of the US presence is on 1% of Japan's territory, a severe burden for the island's people. Believe me, Japanese resentment is not unfounded.

My error. The SDF was formed in the 1950s, while the US was busy in Korea.

Again, I am sorry my presence offends.

Also, by poor behavior by military personnel, I mean displays of such as public drunkenness, public shows of affection with Japanese dates and girlfriends, and other behavior which offends Japanese. Of course crime is a separate issue, which I consider rude to their hosts, and simply despicable.

"public shows of affection with Japanese dates and girlfriends, and other behavior which offends Japanese."

OTOH, how much of that offense is "eww, PDA!!!" and how much is "how dare she choose him instead of me?!"

Concerns and hate mail here:

invisiblepinkunicorn@hushmail.com

For personal reasons, I need to be anonymous to avoid being linked to previous online activity. I've revealed too much about my family and myself. I am particularly concerned about my employment being affected.

Is there anything I can do for my presence to be tolerated? I really do like this site, and the interesting people here.

Mina -

Japanese traditionally are not much for shows of emotion. Doing things like kissing or making out in public is frowned upon. Distaste for loud or affectionate Americans is not necessarily racist. There is sometimes jealousy involved. White and black Americans are stereotyped as being sexual, and being well endowed (compared to Japanese - it is often true, and has been studied).

A male,
I don't dislike you or anything. Sometimes I just get A male fatigue. I'm sorry if my comment was jerky.

Not to be a jerk, either, but I understand where SaraMC is coming from.

A male, it's difficult to respond or engage with your comments when they often overwelm the thread and take it off topic. Occasionally a few of your comments are offensively unnecessary.

Please take this as constructive criticism.

And since this is also off topic, I'll leave it at that.

When I am not working, my Internet addiction sometimes plays out.

Tell me STFU anytime.

OT: I enjoy reading most, though not all, of a male's posts. Its nice to have someone cite/link articles and/or provide information other than personal anecdotes (not that other people dont do that).

the crime rate for the serviceman in Japan is "not bad" by almost any western standard and though I'm not as familiar with Japan, the Middle East specifically Iran is my specialty, but there are a lot of factors that go into our presence in Japan. I always laugh when I think of my friends in Misawa though, for some reason they think all of Japan is warm, they get there and realize how sadly mistaken they were.

Does anyone know what the punishment is if convicted of rape in Japan? One of the guys from my unit was convicted of rape while on leave in Sweden and the authorities let Sweden have him, was amazing to see him get a sentence of 10 years in a very very nice "jail".

I cannot give you a standard for rape, but remember me talking about train groping? The most serious kind of sexual assault with the hands, could merit a 10 year sentence. According to an online search, supposedly the max for rape (remember, by BS JP law, is ONLY forcible insertion of penis in vagina, nothing else, and no marital rape) is 15 years.

If there are no direct, on topic questions for me, I'll just try to be as quiet as I can.

As a Marine veteran and a feminist I have to say:

Not again. Goddamn it! I was stationed there back in '95 when the that gang rape of the 12-year-old kid happened. It was heartbreaking to say the very least. Very sad. The locals were so angry at us. Who could blame them? I remember hanging out down on Kokusai street with a friend when the demonstrators approached. Part of me wanted to join them, but by military regulation I was forbidden.

It's worth noting, though, that locals own the land those bases sit on. They were forced by authorities to lease it to the US for the bases. So the animosity among locals for the many transgressions of the Americans is understandable, to say the least. These incidences are the icing on the cake for the Okinawans and a reflection of the general mentality among male Marines towards women.

I can just about tell you what the Marine Corps' reaction will be. All personnel aboard Okinawa's bases will be restricted from certain neighborhoods. There will be a stand-down for commanders to rebuke the latest incident and remind folks they are in a foreign country and should conduct themselves as good guests should (vague as hell, of course). Everyone will be expected, literally, to tighten their belts and tuck in their shirts more. Folks that live in the barracks will be hardest hit by the new restrictions.

None of these measures will address the real issue - the general attitude toward women among male Marines. In fact, that mentality most likely won't even be addressed, except for units fortunate enough to have women for commanders.

Until the Marine Corps squares that mentality away, nothing will change. This cycle will continue. So, I'm dropping the e-mail address of the Public Affairs office for the Marine Corps in Okinawa. The commander in charge of all Okinawa bases is Commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan, LtGen Richard C. Zilmer. I couldn't find his e-mail anywhere, but here's the PAO address:

OkinawaPAO@usmc.mil

Their website is:

www.okinawa.usmc.mil.

Re: Does anyone know what the punishment is if convicted of rape in Japan?
I lived in Japan for a number of years, and speak and read the language well. I was there during the notorious 1995 rape case (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Okinawan_rape_incident)
in which three soldiers beat up a 6th grade girl, duct taped her, and gang raped her. The soldiers got about 7 years in prison. The maximum was 10 years, but they got less because they apologized or somesuch. At that time, Japan had no special category of punishment for raping a minor. I hope I'm remembering it all correctly. The US military certainly didn't show a zero tolerance policy at that time, as the Admiral in charge of the Pacific forces said: "I think it was absolutely stupid. I have said several times: for the price they paid to rent the car [used in the crime], they could have had a girl [i.e. prostitute]." But the Admiral was punished for that comment and removed. So some progress was made.

I have no doubt that rape is an underprosecuted crime in Japan, as a male implies. But because violent crime rates are so much less in Japan than in the U.S., a disproportionate number of crimes in Japan are committed by U.S. servicemen. Especially in Okinawa, where most of the servicemen are located.

First, I'd like to say that I am not at all ashamed of the "brave" men and women of our armed forces. I'm very proud of them, including two dear friends one in the Navy and the other in Air Guard. I don't think it's fair to judge all these men and women by the actions of few any more than it is fair to judge all women as weak and all african-americans as criminals.

People are people. Some people are raping sociopaths...others are not.

I grew up in Hawaii with a similarly huge military community and I can say - at least generally - that people in the community hated the military. Sure its necessary, sure its crucial to our economy...but people in Hawaii tend to be a bit xenophobic. When something happened that implicated a soldier...everyone was always up in arms about how the "military" was destroying our community...but if that same event happened with a local person, it was brushed off as just an unfortunate part of life.

It's one of the nasty repercussions of having an us versus them attitude. And no us versus them attitude is ever justified IMO.

Soldiers are just people. The Okinawan people are just people. No better...no worse.

And FYI, IT'S NOT AN OCCUPATION. That's a really, really loaded word. Don't use it in such an inappropriate context.

o/t. A Male: I don't always agree with you, but I always appreciate your perspective. While we can all be snarky from time to time, I don't believe I've ever seen you be disrespectful of anyone.

lol I don't think you're a rape apologist. And I am entirely unsurprised my half-arsed mathematics were way off. Having said that, I did not say they were all sex crimes. I worked out what should have been 600,000 based on 100/133 being sex crimes

Unfortunately I have a natural reaction of "fuck you!" to American soldiers being pretty much anywhere. Hense the ranting

But yeah, it's pretty much a military thing. They tell their troops "rape is not OK" while everything around them says it is - if not encouraged. And no military in the world lets local authorities deal with their people if they can avoid it.

It's still bullshit, and it's still pathetic that they have to be locked away to stop them assaulting local people.

"Sure its necessary, sure its crucial to our economy..."

According to their own TV promotion back when, it was claimed the US military was the second largest (if not largest) taxpayer in Hawaii. I will not compare the hardship between communities, because we have a lot more space, and wrongdoing by the military is not played up in media, but an entire uninhabited island, considered a holy site to native Hawaiians, was used as a bombing target for decades, and has only recently been cleared of unexploded munitions. On the main island of Oahu, artillery occasionally falls into people's backyards from the firing ranges.

Where I live, my grandfather, as part of a group of local Japanese, was pressed to clear brushland by hand to build a test site during WWII, which remains in operation on Hawaiian homeland, meant for the natives to live on. The US government is at least $106 million in arrears on lease payment IIRC. Regular harassment by local authorities (they searched his home weekly) led my grandfather to report WWII was the worst time of his life.

"Unfortunately I have a natural reaction of "fuck you!" to American soldiers being pretty much anywhere. Hense the ranting"

It has been my experience in Japan working daily with a variety of Australians, New Zealanders, British, Irish, Canadians, etc., that many citizens of America's closest allies bear a lot of resentment for the US gov't attitude of might makes right as self appointed global policeman.

Other than that, I should be done. I respect those who serve who do not have bad attitudes (eg sexist, or arrogant toward locals) and who do not cause trouble or commit crime, but that's pretty much it. As far as Japan goes, if the Asian situation ever calms, the US should leave them be. They'd be forced to talk to each other to keep peace. I'd be happy to let the western Pacific forces be based in Pearl Harbor. I consider soldiers and sailors to be residents better behaved than many "local boys."

"Mina -

"Japanese traditionally are not much for shows of emotion. Doing things like kissing or making out in public is frowned upon. Distaste for loud or affectionate Americans is not necessarily racist. There is sometimes jealousy involved. White and black Americans are stereotyped as being sexual, and being well endowed (compared to Japanese - it is often true, and has been studied)."

Got it. Now I'm wondering what the usual reactions are to American servicewomen dating Japanese civilian men.

"It's still bullshit, and it's still pathetic that they have to be locked away to stop them assaulting local people."

I totally agree.