Chili’s bartender Amber Corker pours the first drink of the evening Monday after Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, eased drinking restrictions imposed April 2 as part of its period of “heightened sensitivity.” (Chris Fowler / S&S)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — A Navy-imposed curfew for all personnel at Yokosuka and a ban on alcohol sales on base were lifted Monday afternoon.
The 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and the alcohol ban were put in place April 2 as part of a period of “heightened sensitivity” to mourn the March 19 killing of taxi driver Masaaki Takahashi, Commander U.S. Naval Forces and 7th Fleet officials said at the time.
Navy officials said Monday that consumption of alcohol out in town is permitted until midnight.
Takahashi, a 61-year-old taxi driver, was stabbed to death March 19 in Yokosuka.
USS Cowpens Seaman Olatunbosun Ugbogu is in Japanese custody after allegedly admitting to the killing.
Ugbogu’s attorney said the sailor told him he has suffered from mental problems since high school and that he hears voices.
“He told me that the voice he hears is like 20 people ordering him at the same time,” Yasutoshi Murakami said.
The attorney said the 22-year-old sailor told him the voices ordered him to “stab somebody” on March 19.
The Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office received a recommendation Saturday from the Kanagawa prefectural police that Ugbogu be charged with robbery-murder and violation of the arms control law, a prosecutor’s office spokesman said Monday.
Upon hearing the curfew had been lifted, USS Blue Ridge Petty Officer 2nd Class Nishawn Amerson said it’s a relief for people who want to see Japan.
“Not everyone causes trouble,” Amerson said. “It’s too bad that the actions of one person had to impact everyone. But the Navy had to make a point — it had to do everything it could to prevent this sort of thing from ever happening again.”
Navy officials said they will take another look at the policy on Monday.
