Editorial Jul 10, 2016

SOFA-related change falls short

Japan should renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement it has with the U.S. so it can have greater jurisdiction over crimes committed by Americans with U.S. military ties.

Politics & Diplomacy Jul 5, 2016

Japan, U.S. agree to narrow definition of 'civilian component' protected by SOFA

by Ayako Mie

The Japanese and U.S. governments limit the extent to which U.S. military workers are protected under the Status of Forces Agreement in Japan.

Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Jul 5, 2016

Okinawa takes wait-and-see attitude on changes to Japan-U.S. SOFA

Tuesday’s announcement by Tokyo and Washington that an agreement has been reached that more narrowly defines those classified as civilians employed by the U.S. military in Japan was greeted with caution by top Okinawan officials, who are taking a wait-and-see attitude. But the new ...

Politics & Diplomacy Jul 4, 2016

Deal reached on U.S. base worker status in Japan

The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed to narrow the extent to which American citizens can be granted preferential treatment under the bilateral pact that governs jurisdiction over U.S. military personnel and base workers, according to a draft agreement obtained Monday. The move comes ...

Politics & Diplomacy Jun 26, 2016

Japan eyes new definition for U.S. civilian base workers in de facto change to SOFA

The government hopes to hammer out a new deal with the United States on the definition of civilian base workers covered by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) after the murder of a woman in Okinawa — allegedly by an American contractor — rekindled ...

Crime & Legal Jun 23, 2016

Family's pain over 2006 Yokosuka murder reflects desire for SOFA rethink

by Tomoko Otake

Justice has been a long time coming for Masanori Yamazaki, whose common-law wife was murdered by a drunk U.S. sailor in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, 10 years ago, in an unprovoked assault. Yamazaki, 68, is refusing a U.S. government offer to settle over the death ...

National | FOCUS Jun 20, 2016

Latest base-linked crime drags SOFA pact back into spotlight

by May Masangkay

A pact governing the legal status and conduct of U.S. military and nonmilitary personnel in Japan is back under the spotlight following last month’s arrest of an American civilian base worker in Okinawa Prefecture suspected of raping and killing a local Japanese woman. Fueled ...

Politics & Diplomacy Jun 15, 2016

LDP and Komeito to boycott massive anti-U.S. rally Sunday in Okinawa

by Eric Johnston

Despite protesting the murder of a local woman and calling for revisions in the U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, local Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito officials will not take part in what may be the biggest Okinawan anti-base rally in nearly two decades. Organizers ...

Crime & Legal Jun 7, 2016

U.S. seeks to cut damages over 2006 murder committed by sailor in Japan

The U.S. government has proposed a smaller payment to resolve unpaid compensation that a U.S. serviceman was ordered to pay to relatives of the Japanese victim in a 2006 murder-robbery, the Defense Ministry and other sources said Tuesday. The U.S. government, which is involved ...

Politics & Diplomacy Jun 6, 2016

Okinawa anti-base faction boosts its majority in prefectural assembly election

by Eric Johnston

Okinawa’s anti-base faction retained and slightly increased its majority in the prefectural assembly following Sunday’s election, representing a victory for Gov. Takeshi Onaga and a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Candidates who supported Onaga and ran in ...

Crime & Legal Jun 5, 2016

U.S. sailor held on suspicion of drunk driving after collision in Okinawa

A U.S. sailor was arrested Sunday on suspicion of drunk driving in Okinawa, where a U.S. base worker’s alleged involvement in the death of a local woman last month has reignited anger among residents. The three-vehicle accident, which injured two people, prompted the Defense ...