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Okinawa

Flight deck personnel direct an AV-8B Harrier II, assigned to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, as it prepares to take off from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Pacific Ocean in August 2016. Okinawa's governor demanded Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, that Marine officials ground all Harrier jets pending an investigation into a Marine Harrier crash into the sea east of the island.<br>Eric Burgett/Released/Courtesy U.S. Navy

Okinawa governor demands Harriers be grounded pending crash probe

Okinawa’s governor demanded Friday that Marine officials ground all Harrier jets pending an investigation into a Marines’ AV-88 crash into the sea east of the island.

Japan's Defense Ministry officials in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, answer questions during a meeting with a group of protesters who oppose planned U.S. helipads on Okinawa.<br>Mari Yamaguchi/AP

Opponents step up protest against US helipad plan on Okinawa

Opponents of planned U.S. helipads on Japan's southern island of Okinawa have stepped up protests in Tokyo after the central government used military aircraft to transport equipment for the project.

Kenneth Franklin Gadson, a former Marine working as a civilian at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, has been charged with murder and rape resulting in death in the spring slaying of a 20-year-old local woman.<br>Screenshot from NNN

Attorney: Former Marine charged with rape, murder suffered mental illness

The brutal slaying horrified the Japanese, triggering an uproar of anti-American sentiment on the tiny island prefecture, where half of about 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan are based.

Hideya Koja, an intern from Kadena Language Institute on Okinawa, works at the auto shop at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 31, 2016. "I've learned a lot of things from military personnel," he said. "It was difficult, but my English has improved."<br>Jessica Bidwell/Stars and Stripes

Japanese students gain American work experience on Okinawa

Twelve Japanese students from an Okinawan vocational school worked across Kadena Air Base to broaden their English skills, learn about American business and better prepare themselves for the workforce.

Marine Lance Cpl. Luis Rosas, left, and Cpl. Ian Burnham, center, receive letters of appreciation from Urasoe police chief Eikatsu Sakihara, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, at the Urasoe prefectural police station. Rosas and Burnham were honored for responding to a car crash in April in which they aided passengers, cleared the scene and extinguished a fire in the engine of one of the vehicles. <br>Brittany James/Courtesy U.S. Marine Corps

Okinawa Marines honored for helping after serious car crash

On the evening of April 16, Marine Cpl. Ian Burnham and Lance Cpl. Luis Rosas were off duty and returning to base when they witnessed a serious car crash.

Okinawa's Naha District Court is pictured in this undated file photo. A Marine accused of throwing a glass and injuring an Okinawan bartender was released from jail Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, but will likely face charges at a later date, police said.<br>Chiyomi Sumida/Stars and Stripes

Okinawa Marine accused of throwing glass at bartender

The Marine is expected to be charged with inflicting bodily injury in Sunday’s incident at a Chantan bar, said an Okinawa prefectural police spokesman.

Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency, addresses the Pacific Military Treatment Facility Commanders and Stakeholders Forum at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. Bono spoke about upcoming changes to Tricare, the military's health care program for servicemembers, dependents and retirees.<br>Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

Defense Health Agency director on Okinawa to discuss Tricare changes

The head of the agency that manages Tricare was on Okinawa Tuesday to address medical facility commanders about upcoming changes to the military’s health care program for servicemembers, dependents and retirees.

Organizers of a World Breast-feeding Week event on Okinawa hope getting women to breast-feed together will help foster a sense of community and peer support for a practice that they say is important for babies' health.<br>Jessica Bidwell/Stars and Stripes

Military moms join mass breast-feeding event on Okinawa

Women on Okinawa, including U.S. military moms, brought their babies beachside for a mass public breast-feeding event aimed at raising awareness for the practice.

A Japanese citizen holds a sign protesting the Chinese government's claim of ownership of the Senkaku Islands in this undated photo. Japan launched a series of protests with China in recent days over what it considers to be provocations near the disputed islets in the East China Sea.<br>Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Japan protests Chinese vessels near disputed island chain

Japan launched a series of protests with China in recent days over what it considers provocations near disputed islets in the East China Sea.

Rear Adm. John Nowell Jr. speaks aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, as he relinquishes command of the 7th Fleet's amphibious force to Rear Adm. Marc Dalton, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Nowell was flanked by enlisted sailors who had overcome significant challenges to greatly contribute to the force. Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Oluyemi Olabiyi, foreground right, overcame a tough upbringing in Nigeria to excel as a corpsman aboard the USS Germantown. Seaman Alexaray Derby, foreground left, a machinist mate fireman, overcame similar challenges on her way to the Navy from Port More, Jamaica.<br>Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes

Dalton takes reins of 7th Fleet’s amphibious force

As Rear Adm. John Nowell Jr. relinquished command of the 7th Fleet’s amphibious force to Rear Adm. Marc Dalton on Wednesday, he took a moment to show the incoming Task Force 76 commander what truly makes America’s “fight tonight” Pacific naval force great.

A Global Hawk unmanned surveillance drone is parked at Misawa Air Base, Japan, in 2014. Because of bad weather, two Guam-based Global Hawks landed at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.<br>Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes

Bad weather on Guam sends surveillance drones to Japan

Bad weather over Guam has rerouted two U.S. Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft to Okinawa.

A Super Stallion helicopter returns to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, July 22, 2016.<br>George McArthur/U.S. Marine Corps photo

Japan sues Okinawa governor over permit tied to Futenma relocation

The Japanese government ended months of diplomacy Friday by filing suit against Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga for failing to retract his revocation of a landfill permit that is central to the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

Approximately 2,000 protesters rallied in front of the gate at Marine Corps headquarters on Camp Foster Sunday, May 22, 2016, to protest the U.S. military presence in Okinawa after a former U.S. Marine who worked as a civilian on Kadena Air Base confessed to the brutal slaying of a 20-year-old local girl.<br>Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes

Sailor sentenced to 2½ years hard labor for Okinawa rape

A U.S. sailor must serve 2½ years of hard labor for raping an intoxicated Japanese woman at a Naha hotel, an incident that sparked anti-base protests and contributed to tightened liberty restrictions on Okinawa.

Okinawan police do not believe an attack on an American base employee Friday, July 8, 2016, was motivated by recent tensions on the tiny southern Japanese island.<br>Chiyomi Sumida/Stars and Stripes

Attack on Kadena worker unrelated to Okinawa tensions, police say

Okinawan police do not believe an attack on an American base employee Friday was motivated by tensions on the tiny southern Japanese island following several high-profile crimes in recent months allegedly perpetrated by U.S. military and civilian personnel.

A resident from the Reimei No Sato home for disabled adults in Uruma puts cheese on her pizza during a ''Make your own pizza,'' event at the 12th Marines Mess Hall on Camp Hansen on Thursday, July 7, 2016. The event is one of half a dozen exchanges between the Marines and residents from the home held each year.<br>Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes

Okinawa Marines continue community relations events in spite of tensions

Marines made pizza with locals at a community event that had no overtones of the animosity residents feel toward the U.S. military presence.

Aimee Mejia, a Navy petty officer second class assigned to Navy Munitions Command at Kadena Air Base, has been accused of driving drunk and crashing into two cars while going the wrong way on an Okinawa highway and could face up to 15 years in prison. <br>Chiyomi Sumida/Stars and Stripes

Navy sailor officially charged in wrong-way DUI crash in Okinawa

Charges have been filed against a Navy sailor whose wrong-way crash triggered sweeping travel and alcohol restrictions for servicemembers on Okinawa.

Marine Corps officials announced Friday that the period of unity and mourning will end Tuesday. The reflection period began May 27 following the slaying of Rina Shimabukuro, whose death is linked to a U.S. civilian contractor from Kadena Air Base. <br>Scott Reel/U.S. Marine Corps

Mourning period being lifted Tuesday for US troops on Okinawa

The period of unity and mourning that was imposed for U.S. forces on Okinawa following the slaying of a 20-year-old woman will end Tuesday.

Yoshiko Maeshiro shows her 11-year-old grandson, Takuto, the name of her uncle at the Okinawa Peace Prayer Park Thursday, June 23, 2016. A ceremony was held to mark the 71st anniversary of the end of Battle of Okinawa. <br>Chiyomi Sumida/Stars and Stripes

Battle of Okinawa service reflects tensions over slaying

Recent strains on the U.S.-Japan alliance were clear Thursday as high-level representatives of both countries gathered to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, one of World War II’s fiercest ground battles.

In this July 4, 2012 file photo, fireworks burst over Yokota Air Base, Japan during "Celebrate America." Officials said U.S. military isntallations in Japan will not have firework displays or band performances in upcoming Independence Day celebrations "demonstrate solidarity and our unwavering respect" for Rina Shimabukuro, the slain 20-year-old Okinawan woman allegedly raped and murdered by Kenneth Franklin Gadson. <br>Yasuo Osakabe/U.S. Air Force

July 4 fireworks, live concerts canceled at US bases in Japan

The rockets’ red glare will be absent from Independence Day celebrations at U.S. military bases in Japan this year. The decision to go low key for the most patriotic American holiday is an extension of the monthlong “period of unity and mourning” that was declared on Okinawa in sympathy over the slaying of a 20-year-old Okinawa woman that has been linked to a U.S. civilian base worker.

Senior leaders aboard the USS Ronald Reagan discuss alcohol and curfew restrictions with sailors on June 6, 2016, in waters south of Japan. The Navy enacted the restrictions following a series of off-base arrests. <br>Ryan McFarlane/U.S. Navy

Politics play role in Tokyo's reaction to US crime on Okinawa

A servicemember who drives drunk and injures someone in the United States would likely get prosecuted and possibly become the subject of a brief news story. In Japan, the same type of incident has spurred apologies from flag officers, an ambassador and senior U.S. officials, galvanized protesters and energized politicians.

In this image taken from a Fuji Television broadcast, Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga speaks to Japanese reporters about the death of an Okinawa woman, Friday, May 20, 2016. The staunchly anti-U.S. military governor will be among an estimated 50,000 people attending an island-wide demonstration against the U.S. military on Sunday in Naha.<br>Screenshot from Fuji Television

Mass Okinawa demonstration to demand Marines leave island

Okinawa’s staunchly anti-U.S. military Gov. Takeshi Onaga will be among tens of thousands of people who are expected to attend a demonstration Sunday in the wake of a U.S. civilian base worker’s arrest in the death of a 20-year-old Japanese woman.

MV-22 Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit await the green light for takeoff April 17, 2016, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan. Four out of five Okinawans oppose a plan to realign U.S. forces on the island prefecture and more than half want the Marine Corps to leave, according to a recent poll.<br>Jessica Collins/U.S. Marine Corps

Poll shows strong Okinawa resistance to US base realignment plan

Opposition to U.S. forces on Okinawa is hardening following a homicide and other crimes involving Americans, with a recent poll showing most respondents want the U.S. presence reduced or removed altogether.

Kenneth Franklin Gadson, a U.S. military contractor at Kadena Air Base, Japan, was formally charged with illegally disposing of a body at the Naha Public Prosecutor's Office in the death of 20-year-old Rina Shimabukuro, Thursday, June 9, 2016, in Naha, Japan. Police have recommended a murder charge. <br>Chiyomi Sumida/Stars and Stripes

Murder, rape charges recommended in Okinawa woman's death

Police recommended a murder charge for a U.S. base contractor who they say went cruising in his car for a total stranger to attack and killed a 20-year-old Okinawa woman making her nightly walk.

Lt. Gen. John Wissler, former Okinawa area coordinator for U.S. Forces Japan, hands his business card to Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, shortly after his election, Dec. 18, 2014, at Camp Foster. Calling the prefectural election on Sunday, June 5, 2016, a landslide victory, Onaga expressed confidence in his anti-military stance.<br>Henry Antenor/U.S. Marine Corps

Anti-base coalition gains seats in Okinawa assembly election

The Okinawa prefectural assembly election served as a vote of confidence for staunchly anti-U.S. military Gov. Takeshi Onaga.

A row of red pylons block off the entrances to the gasoline stands after the filling station on Camp Foster closed Tuesday, June 7, 2016. <br>Chiyomi Sumida/Stars and Stripes

Exchange gas stations on Okinawa to reopen Wednesday

The Exchange gas stations on Okinawa were shut down Tuesday afternoon because of a change in the fuel delivery contract, but are expected to reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

This photo, provided by Okinawa Regional Customs, shows a substance Japanese police would describe only as a "stimulant," connected to the April arrest of a U.S. civilian working at Kadena Air Base.<br>Courtesy of Okinawa Regional Customs

Kadena civilians face drug charges on Okinawa

Two U.S. base workers and two Japanese nationals are facing drug charges in Okinawa.

An aerial view of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa, Japan.<br>

Okinawa lawmakers pass protest resolution against Marines

Okinawa lawmakers unanimously adopted a protest resolution Thursday calling for the Marine Corps to withdraw completely from the island prefecture after a U.S. base worker was arrested in the death of a 20-year-old woman.

A midnight curfew and other liberty restrictions are coming for servicemembers and other status of forces agreement personnel on Okinawa, Japan, according to a 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force memo.<br>

Midnight curfew, other restrictions in place on Okinawa

A midnight curfew and other restrictions took effect Friday for all servicemembers on Okinawa after Americans were arrested in the death of one woman and the rape of another on an island with a history of public outrage over crimes by members of the U.S. community.

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks during the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative town hall meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Wednesday, May 25, 2016.<br>Carolyn Kaster/AP

Obama looks to Hiroshima visit; Abe won't go to Pearl Harbor

Laying bare the complex politics of reconciliation and contrition, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday rejected the idea of visiting Pearl Harbor to reciprocate for President Barack Obama's historic trip to Hiroshima later this week. Obama, for his part, said he would use his time in Hiroshima to honor all those killed in World War II and to push for a world without nuclear weapons.

Okinawa murder dominates talks between Obama and Abe

The brutal murder of an Okinawa woman, allegedly by a U.S. military contractor, dominated a meeting between the American and Japanese leaders Wednesday night, with President Barack Obama expressing his "deepest regrets" to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the "tragedy."