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SOFA

Japan Times
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 he mention or "apologize to" the Asian victims of World War II. All prime ministers have referred in one way or another to the victims of Japanese aggression when they made the memorial speech, even Abe in his first term. But Abe has not done so in his second term. Mori thinks this omission is indicative of something larger.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 13, 2017
Bilateral pact limiting U.S. base workers' immunity to be inked next week
Aiming to deter crime, Japan and the United States will sign an agreement next week narrowing the scope of legal immunity granted to U.S. military base workers, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 7, 2016
Japan, U.S. to sign pact limiting SOFA coverage of 'civilian component' base workers
The two sides agree to narrow the scope of base workers provided limited legal immunity under the status of forces agreement.
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 Times
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 / Politics
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.
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 Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2016
Latest base-linked crime drags SOFA pact back into spotlight
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.
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 Times
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 / 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.
Japan Times
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.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on