U.S. Military in Okinawa Decides to Extend Curfew Measures for One Month

Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, November 6 (Reporter Li Ziyue, Chen Ze'an) According to a report by Kyodo News on the 6th, the U.S. military stationed in Okinawa decided to extend the curfew imposed on all personnel due to a robbery and murder case involving a U.S. soldier for another month until December 7. The extension applies to junior-ranked personnel.

In early October this year, a case occurred in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, where a U.S. soldier was suspected of robbing and killing a Japanese woman, and the soldier involved was subsequently arrested by the police. Following the incident, the U.S. military in Okinawa announced a 30-day curfew starting from October 9 and increased monitoring at military base entrances and exits.

According to the curfew regulations, all U.S. personnel stationed in Okinawa are prohibited from going out between midnight and 5 a.m. However, during the effective period of the curfew, on the early morning of October 31, a U.S. Marine was arrested for suspected drunk driving.

In response, Japan's Defense Minister Kōizumi Shinjiro stated on November 2 that he had requested the U.S. side to strictly enforce military discipline and take practical measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again, as well as to strictly implement the curfew regulations.

For a long time, crimes involving the U.S. military stationed in Japan have been frequent, including serious cases such as rape, murder, and robbery. Statistics show that in 2025 alone, the Okinawa Prefectural Police handled over 100 criminal cases involving the U.S. military and related personnel.