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July 12, 2025
 

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SOFA

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reviews Self-Defense Forces troops during the SDF's 70th anniversary at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Asaka, which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2024
Ishiba considering U.S. visit for first in-person talks with Trump
The Japanese government is working with the Trump team on arranging the visit and officials may visit the U.S. next week to discuss details.
JAPAN / Explainer
Jan 21, 2022
Decades on, text governing U.S. forces in Japan is yet to be revised
Scrutiny of the Status of Forces Agreement has been renewed after U.S. military personnel were exempted from Japanese COVID-19 measures and areas around U.S. bases saw rises in cases.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 19, 2022
Fix structural problems now or face SOFA revision later
The bottom line, however, is that without transparency, accountability and trust, the U.S.-Japan alliance will not enjoy the full support of the public.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 12, 2022
SOFA exempts U.S. forces from Japan’s laws, as it does its COVID safety measures
Beyond the issues associated with the U.S. military's lax COVID-19 containment measures, SOFA has a long history of incidents.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 25, 2019
Japanese government cites White House as denying report Trump considered ending defense pact
The report said Trump was unhappy that the alliance does not oblige Tokyo to come to America's aid even though it guarantees U.S. aid if Japan is attacked.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 20, 2019
Look at the SOFA pool of labor
An overlooked pool of potential workers is the dependent population of U.S. military personnel assigned to Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 5, 2018
Australian woman renews plea for Japan's government to amend U.S. forces agreement after rape ordeal
An Australian woman who was raped by a U.S. military serviceman more than a decade ago renewed on Thursday her request to Japan's government to amend the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which critics claim allows both countries to evade responsibility for misconduct linked to U.S. bases....
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2018
U.S. unlikely to pay family of woman slain by civilian base worker in Okinawa
The U.S. military appears unlikely to compensate the family of a Japanese woman slain in Okinawa Prefecture in 2016 by a civilian U.S. base worker, it has been learned.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 2, 2017
No one else wants Okinawa's U.S. bases
On Aug. 15, the 72nd anniversary of the Japanese surrender, there was a symposium in Tokyo about changing the Constitution. One of the panelists, documentarian Tatsuya Mori, pointed out that earlier that day Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had given remarks at an annual memorial event, and at no point did...
EDITORIALS
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.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 5, 2016
Japan, U.S. agree to narrow definition of 'civilian component' protected by SOFA
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.
JAPAN / Politics / 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.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 23, 2016
Family's pain over 2006 Yokosuka murder reflects desire for SOFA rethink
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.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 15, 2016
LDP and Komeito to boycott massive anti-U.S. rally Sunday in Okinawa
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.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 6, 2016
Okinawa anti-base faction boosts its majority in prefectural assembly election
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.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 3, 2016
Police to step up patrols in Okinawa after woman's murder
The government vows to increase police presence in Okinawa amid fears about crimes by U.S. military personnel.
EDITORIALS
May 23, 2016
Another heinous crime in Okinawa
The alleged murder of an Okinawan woman by a U.S. base worker could intensify opposition to the heavy U.S. military presence in Okinawa.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Sep 29, 2015
U.S.-Japan environmental agreement on U.S. bases flawed, experts say
The new accord allows Japanese officials access to U.S. military bases in Japan to conduct environmental surveys, but experts question its effectiveness.
EDITORIALS
Oct 30, 2014
Japanese access to U.S. bases
Japan and the U.S. have agreed 'in substance' on a new accord that paves the way for on-site environmental surveys by Japanese authorities inside U.S. military bases.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2014
Japan paid ¥380 million in compensation for accidents by U.S. military personnel
Over the past decade, Japan has ponied up a hefty sum to help compensate victims of accidents caused by U.S. military personnel or civilian employees.
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
Members of the Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad on June 14.
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.

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