Post allowance rates for Department of Defense civilians living in some parts of Japan increased this week, as the yen continues to strengthen against the dollar.

Effective Dec. 7, post allowance rates in Tokyo City increased to 70, up 10 points. In Yokosuka, rates rose 7 points to 42. Rates for the rest of mainland Japan and Okinawa remained unchanged. This means that a single civilian employee living in Tokyo with a base salary of $32,000 will see their annual post allowance increase from $9,720 to $11,340 and their biweekly allowance increase from $374 to $436.

Similar to the cost of living allowance given to servicemembers, post allowances are designed to offset the additional costs of living overseas. Updated on a biweekly basis by the State Department, changes in allowances are tied to national exchange rates and civilian buying habits and usually level exchange rate advantages and disadvantages for federal employees, who are paid in U.S. dollars.

U.S. sailor’s trial starts in taxi driver’s deathSeaman Olatunbosun Ugbogu was scheduled to go on trial Wednesday and is scheduled to be in Yokohama District Court on Thursday and Friday for the robbery and murder of a taxi driver in Yokosuka earlier this year. He faces the death penalty or life imprisonment in Japan if found guilty.

Ugbogu, a Nigerian citizen, is charged in the March 19 stabbing death of Masaaki Takahashi, 61, who was found in his taxi in Yokosuka’s Shioiri neighborhood with his seat belt fastened and the motor still running. Ugbogu, 22, was in deserter status from his command on the Yokosuka-based USS Cowpens when the alleged crime took place.

During a court appearance in April, Ugbogu said he killed Takahashi because of “overpowering voices” in his head, not to get out of paying a $195 fare. His attorney, Yasutoshi Murakami, also argued Ugbogu suffers from mental illness.