Marine in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture was indicted on Wednesday for allegedly raping a woman and injuring another in a U.S military in line with the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement was handed over to Japanese authorities the same day The accord governs the legal status and conduct of U.S The prosecutors have not disclosed Wedington's response to the allegations The assault allegedly occurred in the central part of the main island of Okinawa service members in Okinawa have come to light since June last year The southern island prefecture hosts the bulk of U.S "There have been ongoing sexual assaults by U.S military personnel despite our call for swift preventative measures," said Okinawa Gov "We cannot help but have doubts regarding the education and management of U.S We strongly urge the implementation of more effective countermeasures," he added Wedington choked a female civilian worker in a base lavatory before sexually assaulting her against a stall door and then stomped on the face of the woman who tried to rescue her Okinawa police voluntarily questioned Wedington after receiving a report His case was referred to prosecutors on April 7 Ambassador to Japan George Glass said in a statement that he was "disturbed" by the allegations adding that it does not "reflect the values of the tens of thousands of U.S forces and the Japanese government prepare to hold the first meeting of a forum on May 9 to "address a range of issues and improve community relations." The forum had been created to strengthen cooperation among the U.S the central Japanese government and Okinawa's government and local residents as part of efforts to prevent sexual crimes involving American military personnel Revelations last year by media that the central government had failed to disclose alleged sexual assault cases involving U.S U.S. Marine suspected of raping woman at Okinawa base U.S. Marines from Okinawa to start moving to Guam barracks in June To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Okinawa — Japanese prosecutors have indicted a U.S Marine on charges of sexually assaulting a Japanese woman and injuring another in a restroom on a Marine Corps base in March was charged with forcible sexual intercourse according to a copy of the indictment from the Naha Public Prosecutors Office The alleged assault occurred on Camp Foster where Wedington serves as a correction and detention specialist with the Headquarters and Service Battalion a spokesman for Marine Corps Installations Pacific Wedington was being held Wednesday at the Camp Hansen brig and will be transferred to Japanese custody at the Naha Detention Center Wedington worked at the Hansen brig before being reassigned to Foster Prosecutors allege that Wedington grabbed a woman by the neck forced her against a toilet stall door and penetrated her with his fingers was allegedly stomped in the face and then placed in a rear chokehold The first woman is a Japanese civilian employee on a U.S Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported April 24 An unidentified Marine heard the incident and “rushed to assist preventing possible further action by the alleged perpetrator,” Hoel said Under the U.S.-Japan status of forces agreement Japanese authorities have primary jurisdiction over criminal cases involving Japanese citizens or property will monitor the trial proceedings without interfering in the Japanese judicial process,” Hoel said “The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Okinawa-based service members.” Okinawa police referred Wedington and another Marine to prosecutors on separate sexual assault allegations Prosecutors dropped the second case on April 24 Forces Japan introduced new liberty restrictions in October barring service members from visiting off-base drinking establishments between 1 a.m military officials joined Okinawa police and government leaders in a joint patrol of a nightlife area outside Kadena Air Base – the first such patrol since 1974 The first formal forum for cooperation between U.S military and Okinawan leaders is slated for May 9 Allegations come days after Japanese authorities increased efforts to deter crimes by US servicemen on island Two US marines based on the Japanese island of Okinawa are being investigated for alleged rape days after local authorities stepped up efforts to deter sexual and other crimes by US service personnel A marine in his 20s is suspected of raping a Japanese woman in a bathroom at a US military base last month allegedly raped a woman at a base in January The first man is also alleged to have injured a second woman as she attempted to stop the assault The Okinawa governor, Denny Tamaki, who is opposed to US military bases in the country, condemned the alleged rapes as “deplorable” and urged US military authorities to “take measures to prevent a similar incident”. The US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, said he was deeply concerned by the reports. Glass, who arrived in Japan last week, said: “We deeply value the ties of trust and friendship we have built over many decades with our Japanese hosts, and I am committed to doing everything I can to prevent actions that may jeopardise these bonds.” The alleged rape cases are certain to anger civilians in Okinawa, a subtropical island that hosts more than half of the 47,000 US troops in Japan and two-thirds of US bases. In 2024, 80 people connected to the US military were charged with crimes in Okinawa. Three servicemen have been indicted over alleged sexual crimes on the island since last June. notably the 1995 abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen inflamed anti-base sentiment on the island and prompted Washington and Tokyo to attempt to reduce the US military footprint The US and Japanese governments say US troops in Okinawa act as a deterrent amid growing concern over Chinese military activity in the South and East China Seas and North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes US military officials and Japanese police conducted a joint patrol of a popular entertainment district near a US airbase in Okinawa It was the first time the two countries had conducted patrols together since 1974 two years after the islands that make up Okinawa prefecture reverted to Japanese control Japanese police are investigating two Marines accused of sexual assault on Okinawa according to several news reports and tacit confirmation from the service in which a spokesperson did not offer basic details about the incidents The new accusations follow four known accusations of sexual misconduct against U.S. troops in Okinawa over the last year, though at least one set of charges was dropped against a Marine in January The string of alleged crimes by troops stationed in Okinawa has roiled long-standing discontent among the local community against U.S military presence there as American officials attempt to ensure rank-and-file discipline and diplomatic assurances amid a contentious Read Next: $8.5 Billion for Barracks Improvements, Other Military Quality-of-Life Issues Included in Trump Agenda Bill "We take seriously the recent incidents involving U.S. service members stationed in Okinawa and are fully cooperating with local authorities throughout the course of each case," 1st Lt. Grant Hoel, a spokesperson for Marine Corps Installations Japan Pacific said in an emailed statement on Sunday evening Military.com asked the service to confirm that two Marines were under investigation and to provide information about the service members and details regarding the accusations The publication also asked whether the service had any comment on how the recent cases are affecting local sentiment about the large military presence on the island "We provide every member of our force regular education and training throughout their careers to ensure service members follow local laws and U.S military regulations," Hoel continued without directly addressing the questions "We will work closely with our Japanese allies to ensure U.S personnel maintain the highest standards of behavior and conduct in support of our mutual security." Earlier this month, dozens of representatives from the U.S. military, Okinawa police, local government and neighborhood groups patrolled popular off-duty hangouts outside Kadena Air Base in an effort to ease tensions caused by previous troop misconduct, Stars and Stripes reported It was the first time such a patrol had been conducted since the 1970s Following several high-profile cases of sexual assault and rape allegations againts U.S. troops in Okinawa, military officials imposed stricter rules around drinking, including sobriety checks and curfews, Military.com reported last year It was unclear how effective those measures had been given the allegations against Marines earlier this year; Stars and Stripes noted that leaders on the joint nightlife patrol this month encountered roughly 20 service members out drinking late at night in Okinawa "We deeply value the ties of trust and friendship we have built over many decades with our Japanese hosts, and I am committed to doing everything I can to prevent actions that may jeopardize these bonds," George Glass, U.S. ambassador to Japan, said last week will cooperate with Japan amid the investigations Glass just arrived in Japan on April 18 to assume ambassadorial duties. It was not the first time that diplomats and military officials had to address allegations of troop misconduct recently; In July, Military.com reported then-U.S ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Marine Lt the commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force penned a joint letter expressing "deep regret" amid two different sexual assault cases involving a Marine and airman The history of troop sexual misconduct on Okinawa an island that bears the lion's share of infrastructure and military personnel in Japan beat and raped a 12-year-old Okinawan girl resulting in their sentencing to a Japanese prison and intense outrage from the local community sailor was arrested for injuring two people while driving intoxicated; a Kadena Air Base worker was arrested in connection with a rape and murder of a Japanese woman around the same time; and in 2023 one accused of punching an elderly Japanese woman spurred stricter liberty rules for the service in Japan The incidents often result in apologies from U.S. officials, stricter rules for service members in Japan and continued anger from local politicians, most recently with Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki calling the latest two cases "deplorable," CBS News reported strategic tension in the Pacific continues between the U.S with Japan positioned as a key American ally Okinawa remains a strategic basing location that allows the U.S to project military force throughout the region In initial statements following his arrival to Japan must take into account the safety of Americans interests and military support while also considering the safety of Japanese citizens "to be able to successfully push back against a country like China." Earlier this year, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith expressed concern over a U.S. agreement with the Japanese government that would require the Corps to move thousands of troops out of Okinawa, going on to say the move "puts us going the wrong way" in its posturing toward China, Military.com previously reported Related: Troops in Japan Banned from Late-Night Drinking After String of Alleged Sexual Assaults on Okinawa The parade didn't begin until Alan Kennett Hegseth argued that senior leaders should be "unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that.. Zachary Sessa launched his F-35C Lightning II's payload at Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen last year.. said the service has already signed up and enlisted 74% of the people it set for its.. a former Fox News host and National Guardsman has attempted to reframe the role of the.. It's time to get back in step with the veteran community -- not with fanfare If you want to ace a timed run over the 1.5- to three-mile distances used in most military running tests The review follows changes over the last three years that expanded waivers for 51 conditions Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez is charged with one count each of distribution and possession with intent to.. The White House has backed off President Donald Trump’s stunning social media proposal to change the name of Veterans Day to.. The commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to pause helicopter flight operations around Ronald Reagan.. Visit our Customer Support center for solutions or to contact us This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Travel Takekuni Ikeda delivered protest letters signed by Gov and Ambassador Manabu Miyagawa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Okinawa Liaison Office Ito and Miyagawa made statements but did not take questions from reporters commander of Marine Corps Installations Pacific Consul General Andrew Ou during a meeting at Camp Foster a spokeswoman for the prefecture’s Military Base Affairs Division said by phone Friday It is customary for Japanese government officials to speak to the media only on the condition of anonymity confirmed the meeting took place but declined further comment by phone Friday Copies of both letters were distributed to reporters following the morning meeting in Naha officials demands a review of military training and educational programs implementation of further preventative steps “This incident has had a tremendous impact on [Japanese employees] questioning whether they can go to work safely,” Ikeda said Roughly 9,000 Japanese are employed at American bases on Okinawa Friday’s protest is the latest in a series of official objections raised by Japanese authorities since June Prior efforts included petitions from governors across Japan and direct communications from Tamaki to U.S Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Takehiro Funakoshi conveyed “strong regret” over Wedington’s indictment to U.S Glass also met with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Monday according to a post on the ministry’s official X account Washington was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor He is appealing his five-year prison sentence Two other Marines are awaiting trial in separate cases of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault “The repeated occurrence of sexual assaults by service members not only casts strong doubts on the effectiveness of these measures but also raises serious questions about the state of discipline within the U.S military on Okinawa,” Friday’s letters stated who began relocating from Japan's Okinawa to Guam late last year will begin occupying barracks at Camp Blaz in June a spokesperson for the Guam-based facility said as construction of the facilities continues The remark comes amid the ongoing relocation of 100 logistics personnel to Guam this year marking the first group among more than 4,000 U.S Marines set to be transferred from Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa The move is part of efforts to ease the base-hosting burden on local communities in Okinawa Diann Rosenfeld told Kyodo News on Wednesday that junior enlisted Marines have arrived from Okinawa and are currently housed at other military facilities on the U.S "We're on track to be able to receive the Marines to have the buildings for the Marines to start moving into and start working," Rosenfeld said which will accommodate up to 5,000 personnel once completed while the headquarters building is expected to be fully operational by fall The relocation is based on the U.S.-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation an agreement reached by the two countries in 2006 The cost of the transfer is estimated at $8.7 billion of which up to $2.8 billion will be covered by the Japanese government some 18,000 Marine Corps are stationed in Okinawa Top court nixes Okinawa Pref.'s last appeal over U.S. base landfill Work begins to reinforce soft soil in Okinawa U.S. base transfer U.S. Marines in Okinawa start moving to Guam, over 10 yrs after accord Eisa on Camp Foster 2025 to showcase Okinawan dance on the Marine Corps installation May 11 This open-base event will feature six local and on-base dance teams performing at Camp Foster Resale Lot near the PX from 2-4 p.m an Okinawan dance whose history is thought to date back 400 to 500 years is commonly performed during Obon or Kyu-bon a period in late summer when locals welcome home the spirits of their ancestors The dance was originally meant to see off the ancestors back to the afterlife at the end of the period Eisa season is now broadly considered between June and September according to the planning committee of Zento Eisa Matsuri (All Island Eisa Festival) If you have lived in Okinawa for some time you’ve probably heard the drum beat of the dancers when summer comes along The event on Camp Foster will lead the way to celebrate the arrival of Eisa season Teams from Chatan Town will be joined by a team from the U.S a team from the Amelia Earhart Intermediate School Local citizens with a photo ID will be granted access to the base via Legion Gate (Gate No Those 17 years old and younger must  be escorted by adults Come to Foster and celebrate the Eisa season together Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Marine in his 20s is facing criminal charges including allegedly raping a woman last month in a restroom of an American military base in Japan's Okinawa The Okinawa prefectural police referred the case to prosecutors on April 7 adding the suspect is also accused of injuring another woman who tried to rescue the victim who was a resident of Okinawa and a civilian worker at the base launched an investigation at the base and questioned the Marine on a voluntary basis authorities in line with the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement service members have been indicted over as many alleged sexual violence cases since June last year in Okinawa the southern prefecture that hosts the bulk of American military facilities in the country in reaction to the latest sexual assault case military to take measures that would be effective to prevent a similar incident." Ambassador to Japan George Glass said in a statement that he is "deeply concerned at the reports of alleged incidents involving U.S "We deeply value the ties of trust and friendship we have built over many decades with our Japanese hosts and I am committed to doing everything I can to prevent actions that may jeopardize these bonds," said the envoy who arrived in the Asian country last week military and local police carried out a joint patrol in entertainment districts in the city of Okinawa as part of efforts to prevent sexual crimes involving American military personnel U.S. Marine suspected of sexual assault in Okinawa in November U.S. airman gets 5-yr term for sexual assault of minor in Okinawa 70% of prefectures back revising pact governing U.S. troops in Japan Okinawa — Japanese police arrested two U.S service members on Okinawa over the weekend in separate incidents — one on suspicion of breaking into a retirement home and the other of assaulting a Japanese man An airman from Kadena Air Base allegedly entered the retirement home in Naha’s Wakasa district around 7:50 a.m an Okinawa Prefectural Police spokeswoman said by phone Monday An employee found the airman asleep in a chair a Naha city police spokesman said by phone Facility staff were unable to wake him and called police A worker had unlocked several doors at the facility around 6 a.m. The airman had a blood-alcohol content above 0.03% at the time of his arrest The 18th Wing acknowledged inquiries from Stars and Stripes on Monday but did not respond by the end of the business day Sunday on suspicion of assaulting a 41-year-old Japanese man in Naha’s Makishi district The Marine is assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma “We are fully cooperating with local authorities regarding this matter,” he wrote The Marine allegedly hit the man in the face and bit his left hand The extent of the man’s injuries and recovery time remain unclear The Marine was reportedly fighting with “another foreigner,” who was not identified The Marine declined to take a sobriety test at the scene Stars and Stripes is not identifying the service members because they have not been formally charged decide charges under the Japanese justice system both men remained in custody at the Naha police station Their cases were forwarded to the Naha Public Prosecutors Office Some Japanese government officials speak to the media only on condition of anonymity The patrols — the first of their kind on Okinawa since 1974 according to the prefectural police — follow public outcry over one convicted and two alleged sexual assault cases involving U.S A Japanese employee at Kadena Air Base died after suffering a medical emergency on the Okinawa installation last week The undisclosed medical emergency occurred on April 22 during a Month of the Military Child event on base the wing said in an unsigned statement Monday A previous wing statement identified the event as an annual helicopter demonstration Medical personnel took the employee to an off-base hospital and colleagues of our Team Kadena member during this difficult time,” 18th Wing commander Brig “Their presence and service made a difference within our community The wing declined to identify the worker or provide further details It acknowledged questions emailed by Stars and Stripes on Monday but did not immediately provide responses Japan – Two more no-hitters were thrown on Japan’s baseball diamonds on Saturday increasing the total in the Pacific season to 15 Neo Purificacion survived eight walks and three third-inning runs but settled down to quell the rally as E.J The Samurai beat the Cobras 8-2 in the second game of Saturday’s twin bill Bradley Miller and Eric Ji combined to allow six runs but did not give up a hit as Humphreys hung on for a 7-6 win over Jeongnam Japan on Thursday unveiled a plan to evacuate about 120,000 people from southern islets near Taiwan Ships and planes would be able to transport around 110,000 residents and 10,000 visitors from the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture to eight southwestern and western prefectures within six days under the plan With tensions between China and Taiwan escalating the Japanese government said it plans to conduct field drills for evacuations from the southern prefecture of Okinawa in fiscal 2026 from April next year The evacuees are expected to first transfer by private ferries or airplanes to certain airports and a port on Japan's southwestern main island of Kyushu before heading to other evacuation destinations The government says the plan is not aimed at any particular scenario but all the country's islets subject to evacuation are near Taiwan with Yonaguni Island located only about 100 kilometers from the self-ruled democratic territory Taiwan is viewed as a possible military flashpoint that could draw the United States into conflict with China posing serious security challenges for Japan Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the plan is designed to deepen discussions on the evacuation of residents "under the assumption of a situation where armed attacks are predicted." The effectiveness of efforts to prepare for such a large-scale evacuation has been "improved," as the plan specifies how to transport evacuees In the National Security Strategy long-term policy guidelines updated in 2022 the government pledged to formulate a plan to achieve "prompt evacuation of residents including those in the southwest region well in advance of an armed attack." the Tokyo-administered Senkaku Islands are claimed by Beijing China and Taiwan have been separately governed since they split as a result of a civil war in 1949 Japan eyes deploying long-range missiles on Kyushu island China warns Japan not to interfere in Taiwan affairs forces and Japanese police will hold a joint patrol in Okinawa Prefecture next week after a number of sexual assault cases involving U.S military personnel came to light last year a Japanese government source said Thursday The first joint patrol is scheduled for the night of April 18 in the city of Okinawa and will be the first such patrol in the southern island prefecture since 1974 Local government officials and residents will also participate side as a measure to prevent a recurrence of sexual crimes by U.S military personnel stationed in the prefecture While such patrols were carried out in the past local police were cautious about the initiative as any offending U.S military personnel in principle remains in the custody of the United States until being charged by Japan unless they are arrested at the scene of a crime The plan to conduct the patrol was agreed after officials of the U.S the Okinawa prefectural police as well as the Japanese foreign and defense ministries held talks on Wednesday The patrol will be held in busy areas through the early hours of the next day and officials hope it will stop U.S military personnel from staying out all night Air Force serviceman was convicted last December of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in 2023 forces will deploy large reconnaissance drones in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa for an indefinite period to enhance surveillance and information gathering the Japanese Defense Ministry said Tuesday although the move has triggered local objection MQ-4C Triton aircraft are expected to begin operating out of Kadena Air Base "within a few weeks," Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press conference in Tokyo The Triton is a long-endurance unmanned aircraft with a wingspan of around 40 meters designed to fly at higher altitudes and cover wider areas than the smaller MQ-9 Reaper drones that have been stationed at the same air base since 2023 military tentatively deployed two Tritons at the Kadena base for about five months from May Okinawa is part of a chain of islands stretching southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan facing the East China Sea where Chinese military activity has been increasing After being informed of the deployment by the Defense Ministry the Okinawa prefectural government expressed opposition to the plan as it could increase the base-hosting burden on local communities "We strongly demand that the deployment plan be reconsidered and that our burden be reduced in a visible manner," Okinawa Gov Nakatani told the press conference that he expects the noise to be "limited," citing that almost no complaints were reported during last year's provisional Triton deployment and that the aircraft like the RQ-4 Global Hawk drones that are already operating in Japan does not need to take off and land frequently given its long-range capability Japan imperial couple mourn Iwoto war dead in WWII 80th anniv. visit Japan defense chief vows to enhance transport capacity with new unit Australia nuclear subs could sail near Taiwan, Senkakus: ex-PM Morrison service members will join Japanese police and local officials for the first joint patrol on Okinawa in more than half a century following a series of high-profile criminal cases involving American troops The patrol will aim to enhance public safety “By working side-by-side with our Japanese counterparts we are reinforcing shared standards and contributing to the safety and trust that are essential to the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance,” Lt Okinawa Area Coordinator and commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force according to a Friday news release from Okinawa city Participants will divide into three groups to cover separate routes through the city a spokesman with the city’s Base Policy Division said by phone Friday The initiative will be evaluated after the first patrol to determine how to proceed with future efforts Some Japanese government officials may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity Calls for joint patrols began last summer under then-USFJ commander Lt who also advocated for the creation of a trilateral forum to improve cooperation between U.S. Okinawa police at the time balked at the patrols military police exercising authority outside their installations Marines have also conducted courtesy patrols on weekends in popular nightlife spots off base USFJ and local officials are working to establish a forum “to foster further dialogue with local stakeholders and facilitate progress on key issues of mutual interest,” according to USFJ’s news release “The strength of our alliance lies in close and persistent engagement at all levels,” USFJ Provost Marshal Col “We appreciate the collaborative spirit that has made this agreement possible.” Commanders and senior enlisted leaders on Okinawa are expected to participate in the April 18 patrol Allison Trueblood wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes on Friday Your ticket includes access to the USS Yorktown Enjoy unlimited free admission for you and a guest Learn More Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is proud to participate in Museums For All.  Congressional Medal of Honor Museum The Medal of Honor Museum features interactive exhibits that tell the stories of the brave Americans who have served and protected the U.S Join us as we honor the courage and sacrifice of the USS Laffey’s crew during one of the fiercest attacks in U.S 1945—80 years ago this year—the Laffey was struck by 22 Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Okinawa Seven kamikaze planes and four bombs hit the ship shooting down 11 enemy planes and saving their ship Their actions earned the USS Laffey the nickname: “The Ship That Would Not Die.” Patriots Point is proud to be the permanent home of this highly decorated National Historic Landmark and tribute to the ship and her heroic crew guests can participate in guided tours of the battle-damaged areas and explore new interpretive signage that tells the story of April 16 This special event is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of heroes and pay tribute to their legacy of bravery and resilience Single-day admission is also available for those who prefer to attend just one day Tickets Museum Open Daily 10 am - 5 pmTicket Window Closes at 4 PM Ship Store Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm CONTACT US (843) 884-2727 info@patriotspoint.org LostandFound@patriotspoint.org Walter LaSota was blown out of a foxhole by a Japanese bomb the first time he was wounded during the World War II Battle of Okinawa and another Marine were in the foxhole at Sugar Loaf Hill in Naha city in early May 1945 “He used to carry my extra ammunition and all and the man was 33 years old — I used to call him ‘Pop,’ ” LaSota said Monday during a visit to Toguchi Beach a key landing site for the Marine Corps during the battle “To this day I can’t remember his right name.” LaSota remembered Pop shouting two words: “Dive!” and “Bomb!” it blew me and I just rolled down over the hill,” he said “I didn’t know I went down over the hill because I couldn’t hear To this day I don’t know whatever happened to him; I don’t know whether he got killed by that bomb or not But I was hoping that he didn’t have no suffering with the Japanese getting a hold of him.” The Battle of Okinawa lasted from April 1 to June 22 Two-time Purple Heart recipient LaSota returned to the island for the first time in 80 years with help from the Eagle Society which brings WWII veterans back to their battle sites service members were killed and another 37,000 wounded during the campaign to capture the island while about 90,000 Japanese troops were killed according to the National World War II Museum About a third of the island’s civilian population died in the fighting who teaches history at the University of Maryland Global Campus on Okinawa Estimates range from 100,000 to 188,000 Okinawan deaths Birle chair in American History at Villanova University “This battle ends up being so devastating for so many sides that it influences the decision to drop the bomb to be very blunt,” Scott said at Stars and Stripes’ Okinawa office Monday referring to the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug Neal McCallum was a private first class with Fox Company 6th Marine Division during the fight to take Sugar Loaf Hill said at the war memorial on the hill Friday He was visiting for the first time since 2000 with the Best Defense Foundation and its founder former Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers linebacker Donnie Edwards Army’s 27th Infantry Division at Sugar Loaf wanted the hill to continue pushing into Naha city you’re close to Shuri where [Japan’s] 32nd Army is headquartered at,” Scott said McCallum was there when Marines with Dog Company in his regiment took the hill on May 18 he was hit in his right calf by a shell fired from Shuri Castle and I get about 150 steps,” when the “big guns” at Shuri opened and he was wounded Victor Hanson was killed by machine gun fire Hanson was the uncle of military historian and political commentator Victor Davis Hanson “When we would go to the shower and so forth he would always punch me on the shoulder,” McCallum said “That’s how we became friends — but not close friends McCallum said he never stops thinking about Okinawa “I think of all my buddies that I left behind,” McCallum said “I think about this every day,” he continued “But I say this was a small price to pay to be alive.” This work, Sterilization Course Hosted by U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Boosts Indo-Pacific Medical Readiness, by Isaac Savitz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. A fire broke out Friday during firearms training at a rifle range in northern Okinawa, burning more than 215,000 square feet, according to Marine Corps and Japanese officials. The blaze occurred at Range 2 on Camp Hansen and caused no injuries or damage to the training area, Marine Corps Installations Pacific spokeswoman 1st Lt. Kelsey Enlow said by email Monday. The base fire department extinguished most of the flames Friday, but “due to its location in the impact area there was a small smolder” that couldn’t be reached, Enlow wrote. “A fire watch was set up and the smolder was observed until Saturday morning when the fire department reevaluated and confirmed the area safe and the fire extinguished,” she said. Marines were training with firearms when the blaze ignited, a spokesman for the Okinawa Defense Bureau said Monday. The bureau is an arm of Japan’s Ministry of Defense. The bureau informed the Okinawa prefectural government that the fire started at 12:15 p.m. Friday and was fully extinguished by 6:20 a.m. Saturday, a prefectural spokeswoman said Monday. The fire burned an estimated 215,000 square feet and caused no reported damage outside the base, she said. Some Japanese officials speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. “These types of fires are not uncommon on ranges,” Enlow said. “There are ample measures in place to ensure that they are contained and put out. Safety is always our top concern, and we are exceptionally careful during live-fire ranges and their clean ups.” Despite years of promises, only a handful of American forces have actually left as fears loom of a rising China It’s a pathetic milestone: Two months ago Marines who otherwise would have been stationed in Okinawa ended up instead on a base in Guam This was the first force reduction contemplated by longstanding negotiations between Washington and Tokyo designed to trim the gigantic U.S military footprint in Japan’s southern-most prefecture 9,000 Marines — a little less than half the number now deployed there — are supposed to exit Okinawa But don’t hold your breath. The two countries, members of the most important security alliance in Asia, have been slow-walking the process. They claim that full implementation of the deal hinges on the construction of new U.S. bases in the region, and on the strategic behavior of a rising China many Okinawans view Washington and Tokyo as collaborators in a conspiracy to saddle them with environmental and social pollution and potentially expose them to cataclysmic violence They have become deeply resentful after 80 years of military occupation Although it was reclaimed by Japan in 1972, Okinawa still hosts more than 30 U.S. military bases, which equals 70% of all such facilities in the country This means it is home to more than 25,000 U.S soldiers — a little more than half of all such foreign troops stationed in the entire country after the kidnapping and brutal rape of a 12-year-old girl by American service members Okinawans overwhelmingly approved a non-binding referendum calling for a reduction in the U.S In 2013, Washington and Tokyo tried to revive the original plan, creating a new timetable for reducing the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. With the exception of December’s small redeployment of Marines, however, this pact also gained little traction There is no doubt that fierce opposition has delayed the expansion of Camp Schwab, where a new system of runways is slowly being built on top of the Henoko reef. Some project backers have alleged that the Japanese Communist Party has imported paid protesters Given that the men and women who show up with placards outside the base tend to be anti-war and pro-environment retirees It also ignores the fact that Okinawans generally oppose the relocation project In addition to relocating Futenma operations had pledged to close a few other bases in Okinawa’s more densely populated south moving those Marines to the northern half of the island “So a dozen years later, only a hundred Marines have moved,” says Christopher Johnstone who helped negotiate the deal for the Pentagon before becoming Japan chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies “Both sides know things aren’t moving forward but neither side is incentivized to take action.” which is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and the East China Sea Leaders of the U.S.-Japan security alliance prize Okinawa’s strategic location near the Senkaku Islands and Taiwan But how can a relatively new factor (China’s rise) cause a continuation of the status quo? Critics of the heavy troop presence in Okinawa say the national leaders in the United States and Japan view the island as “expendable.” In other words they don’t care much about the island’s fate Okinawa is the least “Japanese” of Japan’s 47 prefectures It was its own Ryukyu kingdom from 1429 to 1879 when it was finally folded into the centralizing and perhaps “Westernizing” regime of Meiji Japan it operated as a quasi-independent nation in the China-centered tributary system of East Asia and served as a critical node in the trading networks that connected the Chinese and Japanese with Southeast Asia One can still witness the Chinese influence in Okinawan architecture Because they tend to be physically darker and culturally distinct, Okinawans have been viewed for years by mainlanders as “different,” and as inferior. Some islanders, especially aspiring assimilationists like the early 20th century anthropologist Ifa Fuyu became just as critical of what they regarded as “backward” characteristics of their own culture They described themselves as seiban or “primitive tribal members.” Sadly such self-loathing has been a common product of colonialism World War II deepened Okinawa’s alienation from Tokyo. In the bloodiest and last major battle of the war, U.S. troops seized the islands in a “typhoon of steel” that led to the death of between 100,000 and 150,000 Okinawans maybe a third or even half of the local population The Japanese military recruited many islanders to fight and encouraged others to commit suicide rather than Okinawa remains poorer than the rest of the country in part due to neglect by the Japanese government before and during the war government during its long military occupation The unemployment rate is significantly higher than elsewhere in Japan military provides employment for Okinawan guards but also (indirectly) bar hostesses outside the gates The local economy is distorted by its dependence on Japanese tourists and American troops There is almost no manufacturing on the island As much as they resent the military occupation, Okinawans often sound resigned to their fate. They don’t expect relief anytime soon because, according to one anti-base activist they simply don’t enjoy power: “The American government controls the Japanese government and the Japanese government controls the Okinawan people Today, there are only three global naval powers: the United States, China, and Russia able occasionally to deploy further afield If Donald Trump wants European states to look after their own collective security Britain might be better off keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic although still able to inflict severe damage on Ukraine few people talk about the real Russian naval capacity to challenge Western dominance how this will increasingly come up against U.S That is an incredible message to our adversaries It is an incredible show of unity to our allies and our commitment to NATO.” almost half of Britain’s fighting ships embarked from Portsmouth and Devonport to much fanfare “the world’s most advanced air defense destroyer,” has been in the dry dock since 2017 I’ve just finished reading “The Royal and Russian Navies, Cooperation, Competition and Confrontation,”written by Britain’s former Naval Attache to Moscow retired Principal Lecturer at the Defence Centre for Languages & Culture at the UK’s Defence Academy The authors argue that while we have focused most of our attention on Russia’s army in Ukraine And thinking about Russia as a relic of its Cold War self is a huge mistake laboring under sanctions and the tight fiscal constraints of the war in Ukraine Russia’s naval yards have built new vessels non-stop for the past decade Russia has taken delivery of 27 submarines Many more are under construction and will arrive by the end of this decade The Royal Navy, on the other hand, has continued to shrink in the teeth of defense cuts, and each new efficiency drive makes it smaller. The two Albion-class landing vessels and negotiations about their sale to Brazil are at an advanced stage The increase in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP will mostly be swallowed by the MoD’s bloated procurement programs that are typically delayed and always over budget It will not produce a rapid conveyor belt of ship-building that has seen Russia overtake Britain at a rapid pace since the Ukraine crisis started The book also underlines the importance of dialogue as a key component of deterrence and reminds the reader of the significant naval cooperation that took place between the two navies after the Cold War When HMS Battleaxe sailed into Baltiysk in 1992 the first Royal Navy ship visit to modern-day Russia it discovered the remnants of the Soviet Navy The Russian Navy had become the main beneficiary of Russia’s state armament program and a Russian admiral was saying the UK’s decision to give up the Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft in 2010 made his “life easier.” practically all direct engagement between the Royal and Russian navies was cut at the instigation of the UK government the UK and Russia have no serving military attachés in their respective embassies in London and Moscow for the first time since 1941 Our modern generation of seafarers are now only able to view Russians through binoculars Britain has literally watched a modernizing Russian navy sail off into a distant horizon as we’ve criticized Russia from an ivory conning tower From his ridiculous photo op on the deck of HMS The Prince of Wales, it’s not clear that Keir Starmer has understood that the world now contains just three global naval powers: the United States of America Russian naval ambitions have now grown in the High North (Arctic) and in the Pacific While Britain’s modest Carrier Strike Group steams east, Russia has already been active in joint naval exercises with China and Iran as well as ship visits to Myanmar and other locations Britain has practically no scope to control Russia’s increasingly assertive naval posture in Asia This decade-long lack of engagement — not just by Britain but by America pre-Trump — has left us sailing blind on how Russian doctrine and tactics have shifted in the forge of war in Ukraine It's clear to me that in this new world order of military burden sharing between America and Europe Britain would be better placed keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic while America increasingly comes into contact with the Russian Navy in the Pacific In President Donald Trump’s first 100 days his administration has arrested and detained visa holders and other non-citizens in the U.S for speaking out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza That’s not how the administration frames it but that is the connective tissue in each of the cases “We’re either a free society governed by the Constitution Paul was specifically addressing the Antisemitism Awareness Act which would codify a Trump-era executive order declaring that antisemitism is a prohibited form of discrimination in schools and universities and would use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism in assessing cases of antisemitic discrimination through the Department of Education Critics say that it would allow the government to conflate criticism of Zionism and the Israeli government with antisemitism and serve as a dangerous tool to shut down free speech Paul wondered aloud if campus police would be used in enforcing new speech rules As The Jewish Chronicle reported after the vote was postponed Paul was part of “a testy hearing on Wednesday that covered objections to the bill ranging from whether a Christian would be barred from saying that Jews killed Jesus to the acceptability of making contemporary political allusions to Nazi Germany and even the comedy of Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers.” Paul cited the landmark 1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio case in which Ku Klux Klan member Clarence Brandenburg was convicted under two Ohio laws of allegedly inciting violence against Jews and African-Americans with his speech Brandenburg claimed that his punishment violated the First Amendment “Brandenburg was a Nazi and an antisemite and he said horrible things,” Paul said the Supreme Court ruled that you can say terrible things.” The senator compared the American concept of free speech with Europe’s recent crackdowns on speech “That’s unique about our country,” Paul said. “In Europe if you call a boy who thinks he’s a girl a boy If you say something about the Holocaust in Europe Do we want to replicate Europe’s speech laws in the U.S. “We’re codifying what Europe did to speech The Congressional debate is taking place as non-citizen students have been snatched away ostensibly for what they said or wrote about Israel the former co-president of Columbia University’s Palestinian Student Union of using “threatening rhetoric and intimidation” against Jewish students during a protest on campus in 2024 A 34-year-old permanent resident of the U.S who was born and raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank before moving to the U.S Mahdawi was detained by ICE agents while at his naturalization hearing in Vermont on April 14 He was never formally charged with a crime We don't know if the other non-citizen students detained by immigration authorities in the last month have actually been involved in threats or intimidation because the administration has been deliberately vague about its reasons for detaining them Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the administration has the right to deport non-citizens when their "presence and activities in the United States would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S He is invoking a little-used clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act which stipulates that the Secretary of State can determine what kind of activity rises to the level of having “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the country Others are still in detention awaiting hearings Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil claims he was arrested on March 8 for a speech he gave during campus protests, though he too was never charged with anything. A judge has said the administration’s attempt to deport him will be decided in court He has been accused by Department of Homeland Security officials of spreading Hamas propaganda something his family and supporters vehemently deny the detainees’ support for the Palestinians’ plight and criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza appear to be the primary reasons behind their arrests But if America did ignore the First Amendment and allowed rigid UK-style speech laws instead Do the purveyors of the new antisemitism speech legislation on Capitol Hill know that this could boomerang on them when their ideological opponents someday get back into power As journalist Glenn Greenwald observed about the antisemitism legislation “this is not a hate speech code applying to foreign nationals It's a hate speech code that applies to American citizens where people can be punished for the expression of ideas on college campuses cheered for by the right wing faction that has long claimed there's nothing worse than hate speech codes and other forms of suppression of ideas on college campuses.” Carving out one country in the world and making it forbidden to criticize its government is the complete antithesis of the Constitution’s protections and a betrayal of the American tradition The First Amendment allows anyone on American soil to critique the U.S but now condemning a foreign government could land you in jail or deported to another country One would think that putting America first might include putting its First Amendment first The U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement is not a diplomatic breakthrough and will not end the war but it is a significant success for Ukraine both in the short term and — if it is ever in fact implemented — in the longer term It reportedly does not get Ukraine the security “guarantees” that Kyiv has been asking for. It does not commit the U.S. to fight for Ukraine, or to back up a European “reassurance force” for Ukraine. And NATO membership remains off the table. Given its basic positions, there is no chance of the Trump administration shifting on these points But since the Ukraine peace process appeared to run out of steam and Trump threatened to “walk away” from the talks Kyiv and Moscow have been engaged in an elaborate diplomatic dance of semi-proposals and hints to try to ensure that if Trump does walk away he will blame the other side for the talks’ failure This agreement makes it far more likely that he will blame Russia, and therefore that he will continue military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. He may also, as threatened, try to impose additional sanctions on Russia — though given the resistance of most of the world to these sanctions, and tensions over tariffs between the U.S. and Europe it is not at all clear how effective new sanctions would be military and intelligence aid will not win the war for Ukraine nor allow it to drive the Russians from occupied territory It will however help the Ukrainian army to slow down Russia’s advance on the ground and impose heavy casualties on the Russian army This should not be taken by the Ukrainians or their European supporters as an excuse to maintain impossible conditions for peace that will make a settlement impossible; because the military and economic odds are still strongly against Ukraine and a collapse of Ukraine’s exhausted troops is a real possibility it will make it more likely that Russia will abandon or heavily qualify its impossible demands for example for Ukrainian disarmament and withdrawal from additional territory it is clearly far more favorable for Ukraine than Trump’s original — and grotesque — proposal that Ukraine should essentially hand its entire reserves of minerals to the U.S the profits of mineral extraction will be equally shared As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free … President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.” money go to develop mineral extraction in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we’re doing the digging." absolute Western security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace settlement have never really been on offer because the Biden administration and almost every other NATO government stated repeatedly that they would not fight to defend Ukraine will however ensure a strong continued U.S It greatly reduces the risk that in the event of future Russian aggression would simply look away and not respond as it has in this war with military supplies and extreme sanctions But the deal won’t be implemented until the war comes to an end. Thereafter, it will depend on the willingness of U.S private companies to invest in this sector — and that will depend on their assessment of both the risks and the profits involved For it is vital to note that this agreement does not commit the U.S government to invest in Ukraine; and to judge by the present profitability of minerals extraction in the world it is not certain that private investors will see major benefits from doing so China has developed its rare-earth sector on such a scale mainly through huge state-directed investment; and no-one has so far done a thorough analysis of the actual profitability and scale of most of these Ukrainian resources. So, only a tactical success for Ukraine and one over which there hang many questions; but nonetheless one that hopefully will lead Moscow to respond with some serious and acceptable peace proposals of its own. About UsPrivacy PolicyPitchRS@quincyinst.org©2025 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft ©2025 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Subscribe now to our weekly round-up and don't miss a beat with your favorite RS contributors and reporters Hunting for strawberries for 40 minutes at Kafu Strawberry Farm’s greenhouse made me sweat like I would in summer thanks to the countless pieces of sea glass you’ll find while walking along this sandy so I made a snap decision to make a U-turn and follow The best way to get there would be to turn at the road at (26.516152 128.027651) where Route 13 curves toward the east if you’re driving from the northeast Making a turn there leads you to a small road that branches off Route 13 This is a very small road running along farmland the road curves to the right (south) and leads you to a parking space the road eventually ended near an unpaved path I parked my car at the side of the road then headed toward the coast on foot the area looked no different from other paths around beaches in Okinawa lined with shrubs and bushes the view drastically changed as the way gave to low grass and a wide-angle view of the area the scene was even further from the ordinary; huge rocks lay here and there on the sandy beach making it seem to be in the middle of the wilderness With a cold and strong wind blowing against my face I suddenly found myself in the world of Wuthering Heights I set foot on the sandy shore and started looking for some sea glass for me to realize that finding one is not so easy you might see on the web where the shore is almost carpeted with colorful pieces of glass I walked around for a short while with no luck As I was struggling with my treasure hunting “My son bought me sea glass earrings from Okinawa and I have been fascinated ever since,” Nelms said as it takes decades to form from broken glass in the sea so of course I had to come before I go home.” Back in the coastal town of Savannah where she lives Nelms said she had not seen anything there like the glass she found here Though I wasn’t as lucky as Nelms and her son in finding sea glass this is a beautiful beach with a mesmerizing mood I could have spent hours there looking for pieces of sea glass admiring the tides and curious landscape were it not for the cold winds we were a little off to the west of the Sea Glass Beach which could have been why we didn’t have the best luck) If you have a little time and can stand the wind I’ll be back to find some sea glass when the weather is more inviting All throughout Okinawa you’ll find remnants of the Battle of Okinawa a major World War II campaign fought over the course of three months in 1945 many battle sites have become parks and museums Some have many-in-one attractions for the whole family to enjoy including playgrounds and picnic areas intermixed with battle-related sites others are in Naha and surrounded by city life and adventures Okinawa is home to a variety of poisonous snakes The Americans landed on Okinawa’s central west coast to begin the battle for Okinawa Marines landed to the north at Toguchi Beach Toguchi Beach and Sunabe Baba Park have picturesque ocean-front parks The coastal water can be calm and shallow during low tide but precautions still need to be made when exploring these areas Chatan Beach - World War II US Army Landing Monument  The hilly area known as Kakazu Ridge is 7.5 miles south of the U.S and continued for about two weeks until the Japanese abandoned this area and withdrew less than a mile south to Hacksaw Ridge according to an Urasoe City guide on area battle sites Kakazu Ridge was the first of Japan’s numerous outer defense positions called the Shuri Defense Zone created to protect the Shuri Castle Commander of the Japanese Forces on Okinawa According to an article titled “Shuri Castle and Japanese Castles: A Controversial Heritage,” the headquarters’ location ultimately made the castle a target for the Americans Kakazutakadai Park is a beautiful outdoor attraction with a great picnic area and a newer playground and several battle-related sites include an observation deck and a portion of a wall with bullet damage All these sites saw action during the fight for Kakazu Ridge Climb the staircase and follow the posted signs to each site Hacksaw Ridge is one the most important battlefields during the Battle of Okinawa After the United States gained control of Kakazu Ridge it marked the fall of the first Shuri Defense Zone according to the book “Okinawa: The Last Battle - United States Army in World War II The War in the Pacific.” The Japanese military then withdrew to Hacksaw Ridge to defend the second ring of protection for the Japanese headquarters marking the fall to the second Shuri Defense Zone Each site along Hacksaw Ridge is more than just a location and appreciating the views from the top gains a deeper understanding of the events that happened here a combat medic who refused to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs and saved the lives of many troops while still under enemy fire A signboard here describes Doss and his actions during the battle which led to a Medal of Honor as well as how American troops were killed or wounded when attempting to retreat at this very spot Needle Rock – This 42.7 foot-tall rock marks the U.S military’s approach there as described in a previous Stripes Okinawa article Kanpan Underground Position – According to a signboard at this location this tunnel that was used to store food and medical supplies for the Japanese military hop back in your car and drive three miles southwest to Sugar Loaf Hill The fight for Sugar Loaf Hill began on May 12 Sugar Loaf was a strong defensive position designed to protect the 32nd Japanese Imperial Army’s Headquarters A signboard on top of the hill reads: “The Americans prevailed on May 18 and another 1,289 suffered battle fatigue.” There is also a monument and an observation tower near the signboard and can be viewed by the public a popular interactive digital art experience for children GPS (parking): Must find appropriate parking Japanese Imperial Army Headquarters (Shuri Castle) The former Japanese Imperial Army Headquarters is located on the premises of the Shuri Castle A pamphlet from the Center for the Tokyo Raids and War Damage details how the hill was used by the 32nd Japanese Imperial Army’s headquarters and was the living quarters for Lt commander of the Japanese forces at the time Shuri Castle is one of Okinawa’s most familiar buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site It has a long and devoted history and is a must-see stop for every tourist It is one of the highest points on the island and the view from here is fantastic Heading two miles west of the Shuri Castle are several tunnel entrances around the base of the park used it is a recreational park run by the City of Naha with a fun playground and a tug-of-war air museum take an unforgettable trip through downtown Naha for about two-and-a-half miles to Tabaru Park Tabaru Park is also great for those interested in discovering more sites related to the Battle of Okinawa Stroll around the outer ring of the park where you’ll see gated entrances to tunnels that served as the headquarters for the Japanese Naval Base Forces head east for about five miles to the Okinawa Army Hospital There is an underground tunnel used to treat wounded Japanese forces during the battle where it still stands in present-day Kogane Forest in Haebaru The Haebaru Cultural Center (museum) is also on the grounds of park and has various displays of artifacts and personal items relating to the history of the hospital A life-size display of the tunnel with makeshift bunkbeds used when accommodating patients and hospital staff Kogane Forest Park also has a hill to hike and signboards to read along the way (with Google Translate) The exhibition at the cultural center (museum) doesn’t require reservations there is a 30-minute or one-hour course available While the 30-minute course covers the tunnel only the one-hour one covers surrounding areas as well You will be accompanied by a tour guide on both courses Each tour is limited to a group of eight or less Former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters  The Former Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters is in Tomigusuku and is a five-mile drive from the Haebaru Field Hospital Give yourself time to wander through the underground maze-like tunnels where Japanese navy personnel stayed and hid weapons and supplies during the battle GPS (headquarters and parking): 26.1863451 you can head five miles south from the Japanese Naval Headquarters to Santenmo Park in Itoman Even though it is an attractive park with a colorful playground damaged by the United States military prior to the battle There is an observation deck overlooking the Itoman Rotary It is sometimes hard to develop a sense of how tragic the battle really was when an area is so beautifully maintained Go for a four-mile trip from Santenmo Park through old Okinawa villages and the lush hills of Okinawa It is on the grounds of the former Ihara Third Clinic Cave The cave was used as a field hospital to treat wounded Japanese soldiers throughout the battle Ushijima began to realize the end of the battle was near he ordered the end of the student corps and then committed suicide Instead of negotiating with the Americans to protect the island’s civilians these girls were left to fend for themselves Information at the museum indicates that over 100 of the original 222 nurses were killed after their corps were deactivated The museum remembers the girls and teachers that were forced to become nurses Photos of the nurses and written stories of their personal experiences during the battle are available to read (in Japanese) Interviews of some survivors are replayed to watch along with a life-size replica of the cave that can be walked through and descriptions explain the nurses’ involvements throughout the battle and while working inside the cave Finish your adventures two-and-a-half miles to the southern tip of Okinawa Peace Memorial Park has many monuments and a museum relating to the Battle of Okinawa which is dedicated to those who perished during the battle Their names are engraved into granite slabs placed on an open court regardless of nationality and are positioned so the ray of the sun shines directly down the center on the morning of every June 23 Peace Memorial Park is one of the most beautiful parks on the island Peace Memorial Park Museum honors the Okinawan’s people and their experiences before and after the battle and what life was/is like having their homeland being overshowed by two opposing military forces There are exhibits with personal items including books is on permanent display and includes numerous field artillery pieces from the Battle of Okinawa Peace Memorial Park has many monuments relating to the Battle of Okinawa The largest is Cornerstone of Peace which is dedicated to those who perished during the battle June 23 is known as War Memorial Day or Irei-no-hi The United States forces cornered the last of many Japanese soldiers and Okinawan civilians on the cliffs of Mabuni in the closing days to the Battle of Okinawa It was difficult for the Okinawans to believe the enemy would rescue them; instead they threw themselves over the edge of these cliffs to their deaths Mabuni Hill was the last of the 32nd Japanese Imperial Army Headquarters during the final days to the Battle of Okinawa It was here that General Mitsuru Ushijima and Lieutenant General Isamu Cho committed hara-kiri organized resistance ended for the Japanese Imperial Army and an American flag was raised over the island 127.7207107 (coordinates are for at the bottom of the stairs follow the signs to the entrance of the tunnel) Stripes Okinawa writer Shoji Kudaka contributed to this story Marines demonstrated how they’re using civilian drone and powered paragliding technology to provide commanders with a clearer battlefield picture during a recent drill on this Okinawa island The III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group is conducting its first Kaiju Rain exercise at sites across Okinawa The exercise combines four annual training events led by separate elements of the group into a rehearsal of sensor capabilities across the unit “in order to be the joint terminal attack controller of the joint force,” commander Col Heavy rain and fog prevented drone and paraglider flights that morning Jordan Ishimura briefly flew a drone about 20 feet into the air “Generally [the weather] has been favorable for the last week or so,” Benn said one of the four exercises under Kaiju Rain “We have redundancy in our sensor game plan so we employ a number of different sensors,” including binoculars which the 5th ANGLICO has used for about a year has a range of up to 3 ½ miles and is equipped with cameras that can digitally zoom up to 16 times A four-Marine team runs drone missions for the company — one to operate the drone “For expeditionary advanced base operations the Marine Corps needs to be well-informed,” Benn said The company provides commanders with “awareness of the battle space and assured command and control so they can make not only safe but effective decisions.” Expeditionary advanced base operations — a key tenet of the Marines’ Force Design plan — calls for small mobile groups of Marines to disperse within the range of enemy missiles to seize and hold islands and sink enemy vessels used powered paragliders during its portion of the exercise to quickly insert and extract six-Marine teams to conduct missions allow Marines to travel farther without air support Flying them over open ocean is “under review.” The battalion has been using the paragliders for the past year Brett Lite said flying one “takes some getting used to.” “It’s similar to the canopy flight to a certain degree but … it is its own insert platform,” he said The battalion plans to use its sensing capabilities early in a conflict we are demonstrating our capacity to be an element of the JTAC for the joint force and our ability to sense on behalf of the joint force,” he said This work, Honoring Ancestors: Tradition of Shimi in Okinawa, by SrA Luis E. Rios Calderon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright 2025The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment welcomes its final element JVonnta Taylor/Marine Corps)The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment welcomed a new unit that will soon wield the service’s first anti-ship missile defense system in Okinawa according to a spokesperson for Marine Corps Combat Development and Integration The 12th Littoral Combat Team was officially established at Camp Hansen in Okinawa on March 3 to “create chaos and uncertainty in potential adversaries,” according to a Marine Corps release The addition of the team to the littoral regiment marks the third and final subordinate element of the regiment which also includes the 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion and 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion Personnel assigned to the team will focus on narrowing in on areas where Marines and other U.S troops can take advantage of enemies’ weaknesses while obfuscating the ability of adversaries to accurately locate American troops and disrupt their decision-making “The Marine Corps’ force modernization efforts designed the LCT for speed commanding officer of the 12th Littoral Combat Team “We work in coordination with our adjacent commands in the 12th MLR and distributed operations to form relevant and ready combat formations in contested maritime environments.” The Marines’ Pacific allies are copying its littoral regiment movesJapan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines are developing similar ways to fight concealed across island chains.By Starting in fiscal year 2026 the 12th Littoral Combat Team will be equipped with the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System ground-based carrier capable of firing anti-ship missiles according to a spokesperson for Marine Corps Systems Command The Marine Corps redesigned the 3rd Marine Regiment to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in March 2022 and subsequently converted the 12th Marine Regiment — which was already based in Okinawa Japan — to the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment in November 2023 Military Times reported in January 2024 that the regiments would be equipped with capabilities designed to combat adversaries like China’s People’s Liberation Army the regiments will be expected to wield an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system and the light amphibious warship The regiments are slated to contain up to 2,000 Marines and sailors and are expected to carry out deployments to chokepoints along islands and coastlines commanding officer of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment “We bring this combat power to Okinawa to be able to deliver it in the eyes of our adversaries and ensure we can bring it to the decisive point on the battlefield.” Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post where he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation Okinawa — As California-based Reserve Marines trained in the desert in January to prepare for a six-month deployment to Okinawa a wildfire crept toward their neighborhoods back home one of the largest and most destructive in California’s history less than a mile from the Reserve Training Center on Paloma Street in Pasadena 23rd Marines’ Headquarters and Services Company “And the winds just pushed them down through the neighborhood,” battalion commander Lt Davis Gooding told Stars and Stripes at Camp Schwab on April 16 The fire destroyed 9,400 homes and 14,000 acres in neighboring Altadena coming within two blocks of the Reserve center but sparing battalion members and their immediate families from serious losses About a dozen Marine families evacuated temporarily but later returned home safely “We’ve certainly focused on providing services for those Marines through Marine Forces Reserve channels Its last deployment to Okinawa was in 2018 the Unit Deployment Program has rotated U.S.-based infantry battalions to Okinawa for jungle training exercises with Japanese and South Korean allies and other activities supporting the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s mission in the Indo-Pacific The last full Reserve battalion to deploy to Okinawa was 1st Battalion Second Battalion includes Golf and Weapons companies headquartered at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Los Angeles; Fox Company from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas; and Echo Company from San Bruno The battalion traces its origins to World War II when it formed in 1942 with the 23rd Marines and fought in battles at Roi-Namur and later served during the Iraq War in 2003 and 2009 comes from its role in the Marshall Islands campaign of WWII Reserve deployments to Okinawa were more common during the Global War on Terrorism “to relieve the burden on the active-duty force,” Gooding said They are resuming as the Marine Corps’ Force Design concept shifts the service’s focus to the Indo-Pacific “We leverage our civilian experiences … to enhance the military capability of specifically the 4th Marine Regiment,” which the battalion is attached to during the deployment works as a civilian technician developing new battery technology for electric vehicles and handheld devices at QuantumScape in Santa Cruz is helpful with things like problem-solving and fixing equipment in the field “I handle multimillion dollar machinery to develop things that have never been done before,” he said with that also comes how we’re going to solve these issues That mindset that I got from working with other engineers is something I’ve brought over to the Marine Corps side.” Home » USMC’s First Anti-Ship Littoral Combat Team Established in Okinawa The U.S. Marine Corps’ 12th Littoral Combat Team (LCT) will field the first forward deployed NMESIS unmanned anti-ship battery. The 12th LCT is the third and final subordinate element of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment based out of Camp Hansen and it’s part of a growing Marine Corps force dedicated to delivering medium to long-range area denial capabilities to the First Island Chain marked the induction of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment’s final subordinate unit Godby took command of the 12th LCT in December 2024 and assumed formal command in February 2025 Marine Corps force to transition to a littoral-oriented force following a trend of Indo-Pacific reorientations under the Corps’ Force Design 2030 vision it means reorienting the legacy of 1st Battalion 4th Marine Regiment into a reinforced infantry battalion with an attached unmanned anti-ship missile battery The anti-ship missile battery will consist of 18 NMESIS unmanned ground vehicles separated into two platoons NMESIS is built off the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires multirole chassis capable of launching two RGM-184A Naval Strike Missiles each explained the added capability 12th LCT and NMESIS will bring to the force during the redesignation ceremony in a media statement  “We bring this combat power to Okinawa to be able to deliver it in the eyes of our adversaries and ensure we can bring it to the decisive point on the battlefield because there is nothing more powerful than this alliance in this theater.” 12th LCT has not received its NMESIS launchers yet according to officials familiar with the matter 12th LCT will receive the first delivery of launchers in a similar ceremony to the one held in November 2024 for 3d LCT The 12th MLR also operates four HIMARS batteries with the 3d Battalion, capable of launching the MLRS Family of Munitions (MFOM), including the Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) which has proven its ability as an anti-ship missile in a U.S Naval News brings you news coverage of the latest naval defense shows & events We are also reporting on naval technology from all over the world surprises where least expected and rare animals that can’t be seen anywhere else The island is dense with sacred places and scattered tombs that can be found by wandering off an unmarked side trail or going a little farther afield from a popular tourist spot These aren’t particularly spectacular in and of themselves but the stories they tell can walk the line between myth and history making the everyday just a little bit more exciting and interesting without having to stand in line or pay admission (which can suck the wonder out of anything) The more I’ve learned through traveling the island the easier it’s become to add to that understanding and appreciate the island around me Between all the special places to stumble across and the stories there’s a fantastic quality that makes it feel more like the fiction of an open-world game like Skyrim than a common duty station A goddess’ ruins Nanjo City is a treasure trove for early Okinawa history as the island’s mythic origin tale takes place here The beach itself attracts a mix of visitors like beachcombers yoga enthusiasts and family but it seems the legend isn’t the best known reason for visiting there’s a sacred place just in the rocks behind the beach with a stream running through it; this is Hamagaa-utaki where she spent her first night before moving on Short drives away are Amamikyo’s Tamagusuku Castle The castle ruins are all free to explore and while not maintained as well as the famous UNESCO castles Nanjo has a tourism map with these places on it but you can also easily wander from point to point and just find something… Near the beach’s backside are Okinawa’s original rice field But taking the stairs between them to a marked path leading to the top of the hill It was unmarked but clearly something had trample a narrow path Following it in a low crouch through the tunnel of trees and brush which led to a striking sight: a rocky tomb under a cliff with a single large tree hanging off it A friend translated the memorial stone as “Lord Tenbu” I learned he was the “ancestor of rice planting” and his quiet resting place overlooks that original field a proud and noble lord who brought prosperity to his people and led a failed insurrection against the Ryukyu Kingdom fled her husband with the help of her servant Ufugusuku Uni; “uni” is the dialect term for “oni” or ogre he helped whisk her away and would return for Amawari’s head leading a royal army For his reward he married the widowed princess and was given rule over Chibana Amawari is celebrated and his Katsuren Castle treasured; but not far from Camp Shields and Kadena Air Base are the least impressive castle ruins in Okinawa as nothing remains and even the park itself feels half forgotten Following an overgrown and unmaintained trail around to the back side leads to maintained tomb When the first Sho dynasty ended he fell from favor and either was killed or took his life here there’s an immediate exit so no backtracking is required there’s stairs leading down to a dirt parking lot and a residential neighborhood I could have started there but no signs lead to the tomb Northern Okinawa’s biodiversity is so full of unique flora and creatures that its now part of a UNESCO world heritage site has become symbolic of these elusive animals olive body and black and white belly make for a striking sight which even Okinawans may go their whole lives without seeing except in photos It’s Japan’s only flightless bird but it runs fast Its existence was first officially catalogued in 1981 so it’s both rare and somewhat mysterious as even researching those in captivity can only tell so much about the endangered species Once my wife and I were visiting locations used in the recent asadora an old elementary school that has been repurposed to support the growth of baby sea turtles born in an aquarium so that they can be released once they’re big enough Visiting the little turtles was free and they were very cute she told us that she’d seen many Yanbaru Kuina in the wild and that we were almost guaranteed to see them along a certain stretch of road but only if we arrived prior to 8:30 a.m the increase in road traffic would scare them off A few weeks later we followed her instructions and as soon as we got to the stretch of road A kuina darted across the road and into the bushes including an even rarer baby kuina whose legs and beak had yet to turn orange By the end of the day between there and pure luck in a few other spots but it wouldn’t be much of a quest if you didn’t have to talk to someone and receive it first in his large terrarium and learn all about his species Hyakuna Beach (Yaharadukasa) Plus Code 4QQW+QP Nanjo Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report NAHA—Less than a week after joint Japan-U.S anti-crime patrols started in Okinawa Prefecture police here on April 23 announced that two U.S Marine Corps members have been accused of sexual assault Okinawa prefectural police said they sent papers on the Marines to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office on April 7 They did not say if the suspects have admitted to or denied the allegations one of the Marines in his 20s is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in a restroom at a U.S military base on the main island of Okinawa in March The suspect is also believed to have caused a minor injury to another woman after the assault Police sent papers to prosecutors regarding this injury allegedly sexually assaulted a female acquaintance on the main island of Okinawa in January The three women each contacted prefectural police military personnel suspected of committing crimes while off-duty military can hold that person until indictment by Japanese prosecutors so Okinawa police are limited to questioning the suspects on a voluntary basis military personnel in Okinawa Prefecture were revealed in succession since June last year reigniting anger within the prefectural government and among the local population Forces Japan in July announced countermeasures to prevent a recurrence including joint patrols conducted by prefectural police and the U.S military had also announced it would hold a “forum” to exchange opinions with the Okinawa prefectural government and local residents Okinawa police identified four cases of suspected sexual misconduct by U.S But one case sent to prosecutors in January was dropped due to insufficient evidence Okinawa police mum on another sex crime tied to U.S efforts in doubt after Marine accused of sexual assault State to more quickly inform Okinawa about U.S airman denies raping underage girl in Okinawa airman charged over sex crime with minor in Okinawa military go on joint patrols to prevent crime Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Two Air Force fighter squadrons arrived at Kadena Air Base last week as part of the service’s ongoing rotational deployments to the home of the 18th Wing on Okinawa F-35A Lightning IIs with the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base and F-15E Strike Eagles with the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base began landing at the base between Thursday and Sunday The deployments mark the latest in a series of rotations since the Air Force began phasing out Kadena’s aging F-15C/D fleet in late 2022 “The men and women of the 355th EFS are excited to be back at Kadena Air Base,” 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander Lt “I have spent the majority of my career in [Pacific Air Forces] and am looking forward to enhancing our squadron’s proficiency in the asymmetric advantages we share in this [area of operation].” The Air Force did not disclose how many aircraft were deployed or how long they will remain The 18th Wing acknowledged queries from Stars and Stripes on Monday and Tuesday but has not yet responded to questions about the deployment said the rotational deployments are key to maintaining readiness and deterrence in the region “Kadena’s commitment to regional deterrence is ironclad,” he said in the release “Rotational aircraft are a normal part of Kadena’s operations and their presence ensures the continuation of our long-standing mission to defend Japan and maintain an open and free Indo-Pacific.” Kadena has relied on a mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons to carry out its air-defense mission is capable of long-range strike missions while defending itself against air threats Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base deployed to Kadena on a rotational basis in 2023 The final operational flight of Kadena’s F-15C fleet in the Pacific took place Jan following a ceremonial sendoff last August 2025Osprey squadrons based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma were among those cut as part of the Marine Corps' 2025 aviation strategy Marine Corps scaled back its number of MV-22 Ospreys from 24 to 20 on Okinawa in 2024 as part of an overhauling effort for the aircraft The change was outlined in the 2025 Marine Aviation Plan which noted a reduction in tiltrotor squadrons across the service from 12 to 10 authorized Ospreys in support of a force design initiative Medium Tiltrotor Squadrons 262 and 265 based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma “Force Design realignment reflects a comprehensive evaluation of the structure and number of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadrons to enhance their overall effectiveness and responsiveness,” a Marine Corps spokesperson told Military Times or humanitarian missions for the squadrons the military grounded Ospreys across the Marine Corps “We are pursuing several improvements to the [proprotor gearbox] to enhance aircraft safety and improve component reliability and durability,” the plan reads had risen significantly in the years leading up to the tragedy The top three most serious types of incidents for Ospreys across the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force rose 46% between 2019 and 2023 while overall safety issues spiked 18% during the same timeframe, according to AP The Marine Corps has maintained the aircraft’s safety metrics are not anomalous and align with other aviation safety incident rates The new plan includes the Osprey Drive System Safety and Health Instrumentation which will install sensors in the proprotor gearbox to help predict when an aircraft part is in danger of failing so that crews can replace it before that time comes The plan also announced a new triple-melt steel component of the proprotor gearbox that the Marine Corps says “will drastically reduce the likelihood of material defects in critical gears and bearings.” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Kadena Air Base briefly ordered all its residents to shelter-in-place early Sunday morning due to unspecified space debris The overnight notification declared “Alarm Red” for all personnel the wing said on its official Facebook page at 8:17 a.m The siren and voice alert system on the base also sounded The notice went out via email at 1:21 a.m. according to a screenshot of the notices posted by the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook group An “Alarm Green” notice declaring all-clear was sent via email about 10 minutes later according to a Facebook post on the Kadena Spouses Group The wing’s Facebook post said “space debris that was identified in the area” prompted the alarm but provided no further information about the debris “The base’s safety protocols were activated and after careful monitoring the situation was cleared within minutes,” the post stated “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this brief event.” The wing did not respond to emails and phone calls on Sunday seeking comment I departed on a Sunday morning in May from Okinawa’s Tomari Port (see sidebar below) which was crowded with tourists of different nationalities while others had underwater cameras in hand although they may have spoken different languages they all had the same thing in mind: crystal-clear blue waters around the Kerama Islands ​Often referred to as “Kerama Blue,” the exceptional color of the ocean has been drawing many tourists to this group of around 20 islands I purchased my one-way ticket to Aka Island for 2,250 yen with tax from the counter That started the cost calculator in my head The ferry to Aka Island went much more smoothly than I had thought the waters between Naha and the Kerama Islands would be very rough It was hard to believe that the rainy season had just started five days prior Although it was supposed to be an off-season the number of the passengers was telling a quite different story There seems to be no break for the popularity of Kerama Islands I sat facing the right side of the ferry and watched as we passed a few small islands the view of a bridge between Aka and Geruma islands came into focus presenting a much different layer from the waters in deep blue that I saw in the outer sea the calmness of the island was pretty striking I could hardly see anybody around the port It was a fresh view for someone used to the noisy environment on the main island After buying my ticket for a boat ride to Zamami Island I headed to a local store near the port to rent a bike tourists typically rent a moped or a bike for transportation on the island renting a bike for five hours at 1,000 yen was an easy decision A moped would have been 2,500 yen for three hours ​Aka Island is known for having beautiful beaches (see sidebar below) For tourists who expect beautiful views of the sea the most going south on Aka Bridge to visit Geruma and Fukaji Islands may not be their first choice The coastline of these islands are mostly covered with rocks and pebbles touring those islands provide great opportunities to see natural beauty This uninhabited island had an observatory which offers a view of Tokashiki Island as well Geruma and Aka Islands I was exhausted by the time I reached the spot it was worth it to get the view of the different rocks off the coast I returned to Aka Island shortly after 2 p.m. so lunch was already over at some restaurants in the area ​My Margherita pizza lunch at a café was unexpectedly interrupted by a Kerama deer which showed up in Aka town (see sidebar below) the wild deer was hanging around in a shade near the café The local town mostly consists of old houses along small streets there were traditional Okinawan houses with red-brick roofs or those with Shisa Dogs sitting at the entrance the town also had an atmosphere of a resort city in a foreign country It may be because of the colorful wetsuits hung on the walls of dive shops or the couple of new lodges spotted in the town But what stood out was the contrast between the sea and sandy shores and the white walls and red ceilings of the structures With the strong sunlight making each color vibrant After hearing a fellow tourist get excited my attention was drawn to a sea turtle popping its face above the surface of the water the sea turtle was gone without giving me a chance for photos With the deer and sea turtle encounters behind me ​Mitsushima was the name of the boat I rode the boat connects the three islands of Kerama The last boat of the day departed Aka port at 6:10 p.m With the sun quickly moving to the horizon but it became very dark by the time we arrived on Zamami port My first stop on my next island would end up being my final for Day 1: Zamami International Guest House My lodging was located right in the middle of Zamami town – less than a five-minute walk from the port it had a look of a local Okinawan house and pop art mixed together An Orion Beer lantern hanging under the eaves and Shisa dogs sitting at the entrance gave the building the vibe of a local inn but brightly colored signs at the door made it look hip The interior was adorned with artifacts such as fishermen floats I didn’t feel like going out to look for another place to eat but the “Classic Burger” I had for 950 yen proved it was the right call The home cooked hamburger was a good size and was tasty The burger with French fries and jasmine tea was rejuvenating everybody seemed to have gone to bed at the inn The dormitory style room I stayed in was clean and cozy ​Although there are several beautiful beaches on the island Nishibama beach is the only one approved by the Zamami village office for water activities It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the beach Aka Beach (Maja no Hama) is known as a place where there is a good chance of encountering sea turtles But there are no lifeguards or shower rooms available on site the Kerama Deer are one of the smallest deer in Japan Fukaji and Yakabi islands are the locations where they live Although deer are normally cautious of humans Reservations are required depending upon what time of a day it departs It costs 300 yen between Aka and Zamami islands while it costs 800 yen between Zamami and Tokashiki islands check out zamamitouristinfo.wordpress.com/getting-around/getting-between-islands-mitsushima/ the cheapest place to spend the night on Zamami Island is a campground near Ama beach It’s 500 yen for adults and 250 for children (6-12 years old) Tents can be rented at the location as well Camping is prohibited at other locations on the island Visitors are required to be quiet on site starting at 9 p.m check out www.vill.zamami.okinawa.jp.e.gz.hp.transer.com/enjoy/stay/2.html one to two ferries bound for Aka/Zamami depart There are also ferries to Tokashiki Island Ticket counters are set up separately between these two destinations A ferry ticket from Tomari to Zamami is 2,220 yen To go to Tokashiki from Tomari by ferry will run you 1,760 (3,260 round trip) There are also high-speed boats available between the island and the port With one hour left before a snorkeling tour I booked the town looked even smaller than it seemed the day before After having toast and butter at a café for breakfast The snorkeling spot was a five-minute drive from Zamami port the boat I took cruised quietly through the sea In a sunlight that rippled through the prism of the water the countless branches of coral presented a distinct look There was a school of blue fish that went by the branches a Moorish Idol was swimming alone gracefully I could also see several clownfish hiding in between sea anemones My excitement peaked when I encountered two sea turtles One of them was staying at the bottom of the sea seemingly eating seaweed Several tropical fish were staying on the side I made a stop at a store nearby and bought a “Marlin Bowl” and a “fish meat sausage” (550 yen) As I was enjoying the texture of fresh meat of the fish I thought about my game plan for the afternoon a tour guide told me that Zamami Island had earned two Michelin stars a couple years ago for the beauty of Furuzamami Beach (see sidebar below) Leaving the island without seeing the beach didn’t sound like a wise decision I rented a moped and headed to Furuzamami Beach It was my plan to see the beach from ashore ​The beach almost looked like a blue cocktail served up by nature like a kid can’t fight his appetite for candy I could see tropical fish swimming all around me while the crystal-clear water dazzled me above and below the surface I took the ferry Mitsushima for the second time When it arrived at Aharen Fishing Port on Tokashiki Island at 5:30 p.m. ​My first impression of Tokashiki Island was that it was big I knew from looking at a map that Tokashiki is the biggest of all the Kerama Islands looked overwhelming after having toured smaller islands Tokashiki Island is hard to get around without a car The owner of Kerama Backpackers (see sidebar below) The lodging was about a 20-minute drive away ​Kerama Backpackers was similar to Zamami International Guesthouse in some ways The hostel on Tokashiki Island was a lot like a regular Japanese house I shared a tatami room with a couple of other travelers there were rules visitors needed to follow and I soon got used to being in the Japanese-style inn I managed to find a restaurant near Tokashiki port and had a sushi plate Most of them had already spent a couple of days there and had a better idea of how to get around the beach earned two Michelin Green Guide stars ​Its 1 km stretch of white sandy shore is often dotted with colorful beach umbrellas and presents a picture-perfect scene It is regarded as a good place for snorkeling and diving snorkel mask and fins (1,000 yen) are available for rental The rental shop can also hold luggage for visitors This beach is a 20-minute walk from Zamami port Many tourists visit there for the calmness of the sea There are sea turtles living around the beach A rental car typically costs about 3,500 yen per hour while a moped is 1,700 yen and a bike 500 yen There is also a bus that connects Zamami Port Some of them serve up local food such as soba noodles while others offer western food such as pizza and pasta Places such as Zamami International Guest House or La Toquee are popular among tourists from foreign countries and are known as good places to have a drink and is arguably the most affordable lodging on Tokashiki Island this place has a Japanese-style tatami room They also provide visitors a free ride to Aharen or Tokashiku Beach The staff has plenty of helpful info about where to eat or what to do on the island There is a campground near Aharen Beach where facilities such as bathrooms A one-night stay will run 500 yen for adults and 250 for minors I took a walk and found a small café along the way I had two rice balls and a cup of espresso for breakfast I had two destinations in mind: Aharen and Tokashiku beaches (see sidebar below) it could take an hour or more to go to those beaches from Tokashiki town a staffer offered me a ride to Aharen Beach The location was right next to the port where I landed the previous night there were already tourists on the sandy shore Standing at the northwest end of the beach was Kubandaki Observatory which commands a good view of the location The route leading up to the viewpoint was surrounded by interesting landscape and continued under a long arch of trees before getting to the bottom of the observation deck ​The ocean looked beautiful from the viewpoint But Aharen Beach looked more dynamic with jungles and  huge rocks surrounding it Looking to do something different from the previous days I rented a stand-up paddleboard for 1,500 yen for an hour By the time the one-hour SUP session was over there were many restaurants along the beach I had curry rice (650 yen) at one of the restaurants as I thought over what to do in the afternoon There were only four hours left before leaving the island My original plan for the afternoon was to snorkel at Tokashiku Beach After seeing the crystal clear water as I was paddling on the board I was leaning toward remaining at Aharen and exploring under the water But I did not want to leave the island without seeing the other beach Tokashiku Beach won’t be difficult to explore I could see many tourists swimming on their own I signed up for a tour (5,400 yen) to locate coral reefs or marine creatures without wasting time When I saw sea turtles on the previous day Staying at the bottom of the sea not far from the shore the creature suddenly started swimming upward When the creature lifted the tip of its face above the water ​I couldn’t stop taking photos and shooting videos By the time the tour was over around 2:30 p.m. I was on Ferry Tokashiki cruising smoothly eastward and the cabins were close to full capacity Passengers spoke in different languages – very similar to the scene I had witnessed two days prior A ferry ticket from Tokashiki to Naha (1,690 yen) was the last purchase I made during the trip My wallet became a little lighter than it had been for sure My goal had been to spend less than 30,000 yen in the end I spent a total of 33,169 yen on my journey ​There are definitely ways to make your trip cheaper if you choose Hopefully you can use this as a guide to planning your next Okinawan island adventure As I watched Kerama Island get smaller and smaller my mind only focused on all the priceless memories I had just made ​Arguably the most popular beach on Tokashiki Island There are rental stores on the beach for gear such as snorkel There are also cafés and restaurants on the beach This is a popular snorkeling spot where the sea is calm and many coral reefs can be seen From Kubandaki Observatory at the northwest end of the beach people can enjoy the entire view of the beach and also beautiful sunset this beach is known as a good place for snorkeling Sea turtles are often seen eating seaweed on the shoal which runs for about 490 feet from the shore there are not many buildings around the area except one hotel So there is a secluded or quiet mood there So it takes a lot of time to move around on foot or by bike Rental cars and mopeds are available for about 3,000 yen and 1,000 yen per hour There is a bus that runs between Tokashiki port and Aharen beach which costs an adult 400 yen and a minor 200 yen This work, USAG Okinawa Torii Barracks Upgraded with Modern Furnishings, by Natalie Stanley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Stay informed with this twice-weekly e-newsletter sent right to your inbox In this new episode of Arlington Eats, host Cynthia Lemus visited Okinawa Asian Cuisine a fresh addition to Arlington's dining scene The restaurant offers a unique all you can eat experience featuring high quality Okinawa Asian Cuisine is a spot locals can visit if they are craving something different “We offer an all-you-can-eat option where customers can order everything on the menu and everything comes out hot and fresh,” said Ashley Chuk The restaurant offers over 100 items on its menu but instead of you going out to grab your food your server takes your order and everything is brought to your table fresh and hot You don’t have to worry about other people touching your food,” said Chuk Okinawa’s commitment to freshness extends to its preparation process we make sure everything is fresh and hot when it’s served to the customer we never reuse them,” said Long Chen Ashley believes there's no better place for their restaurant than The American Dream City but this was the perfect location,” she said A lot of customers refer their friends and family which has really helped our business grow.” Okinawa Asian Cuisine is located at 1325 W The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m Customers can choose between two options: An all-you-can-eat menu or a regular menu with individual orders lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m and dinner is available for $29.95 per person View on Map Contact Us Join The National WWII Museum's Educational Travel Team and Historian William I Hitchcock as they explore the highlights of this upcoming journey through Normandy and into the heart of Paris Watch as historian Jonathan Parshall and Senior Director of Educational Travel Sarah Kirksey provide an overview of Victory in the Pacific: Japan and Okinawa an exclusive tour from The National WWII Museum this journey commemorates the end of the war in the Pacific tracing the final battles from Tokyo to Okinawa Guests will explore the Japanese civilian experience at the National Showa Memorial Museum travel by bullet train to Hiroshima—the site of the first atomic bombing in 1945—and pay tribute to the fallen at Okinawa the largest land battle of the Pacific theater Parshall and Kirksey will offer expert insights through lectures and on-location commentary Learn more about the tour here Watch as The National WWII Museum's Educational Travel Team and Historian Alexandra Richie discuss the Museum's newest tour Watch as The National WWII Museum's Educational Travel Team and Historian Alexandra Richie discuss the Megastructures: Forced Labor and Massive Works in the Third Reich tour Learn about Kristallnacht or the “Night of Broken Glass” and how the history of European antisemitism helped lead to this event Join us for a webinar concluding our Women’s History Month programming discussing a pioneer in American aviation World War II was a watershed moment for Mexican Americans and their quest for equality—during the war Mexican Americans served in the military and worked on the Home Front to support their country were no longer willing to accept second-class citizenship This lecture rethinks the attack on Pearl Harbor from the perspective of Native Hawaiian history 2021 marks the centennial of the creation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery One of the world’s leading scholars on Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union joins Institute Historian to discuss this critical figure in 20th century history View Campus Map Okinawa — Japanese troops detonated 24 suspected U.S shells off the coast of Okinawa’s capital Wednesday the third disposal of World War II ordnance in a month on the former island battleground Eleven explosive ordnance disposal divers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Sub Area Activity Okinawa unit set off the explosives underwater at 1 p.m. one of four wharves at Naha’s civilian port which destroyed more than 1,630 pounds of ordnance shook the two-story Naha Ecoisland waste disposal building near Pier 10 where Self-Defense Force personnel and media gathered to observe Vessels were barred from entering a 980-foot radius around the site and swimmers and divers were restricted within a nearly two-mile radius starting at 9:30 a.m. The shells were discovered during construction work in the port’s harbor between January and November 2024 and had been stored underwater near the detonation site The recovered ordnance included three 275-pound bombs Divers secured the shells with sandbags 50 feet below the surface before using C-4 explosives to destroy them a Maritime Self-Defense Force spokesman told Stars and Stripes before the detonation members of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 101st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit defused a U.S.-made 5-inch shell found in January by construction workers in Urasoe The Japanese government has increased efforts to locate unexploded ordnance at airports nationwide Join The National WWII Museum's Educational Travel Team and expert historian Jonathan Parshall to learn about this upcoming journey commemorating the end of the war in the Pacific Join The National WWII Museum's Educational Travel Team for an overview of Victory in the Pacific: Japan and Okinawa a unique tour commemorating the end of the war in the Pacific Featured historian Jonathan Parshall and Senior Director of Educational Travel Sarah Kirksey will discuss this one-of-a-kind journey into both American and Japanese history set for October 1-11 Traveling through Japan from Tokyo to Okinawa explore the history of the brutal final battles and discover the local perspective of the war that changed the world Explore the Japanese civilian experience at the National Showa Memorial Museum the site of the first atomic bombing in 1945 the scene of the largest land battle the Americans experienced in the Pacific theater To join this webinar, click here A recording will be made available after the live broadcast For tour questions or for more information, the Educational Travel Team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT. Call 1-877-813-3329 x 257 or email travel@nationalww2museum.org Expand the walls of your classroom and make cross-curricular connections with the Museum’s FREE webinar series the last of three subordinate elements to be designated within the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment was stood up Monday at the regiment’s Gun Park on Camp Hansen Jacob Godby took command of the team and Sgt Kissick was designated the battalion sergeant major during a ceremony in which about 200 Marines participated Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force III Marine Expeditionary Force commander Lt the 12th Littoral Regiment is just under 2,000 Marines and growing Peter Eltringham said during remarks at the ceremony but we got a whole lot stronger today because of this formation,” Eltringham said “… We bring this combat power to Okinawa to be able to deliver it in the eyes of our adversaries and to build that combat power such that we can make sure that we bring it to the decisive point on the battlefield.” The combat team is centered around a “reinforced infantry battalion with an anti-ship missile battery,” according to a Feb It is designed to “degrade potential adversaries’ decision-making calculus by exploiting critical vulnerabilities and [be] difficult to observe in littoral warfare,” regiment spokeswoman 1st Lt the team “conducts reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance and establishes expeditionary sites to support the maritime campaign” in line with the Marine Corps’ Force Design plan The 12th Littoral Regiment was created in November 2023 as part of Force Design The regiment’s stand-in force operations are a key tenet of the plan’s island-fighting doctrine The Marine Corps’ concept for stand-in forces cites China as the joint force’s “pacing challenge.” Littoral regiments are designed as smaller mobile units inserted within enemy missile range to seize and hold key islands and deny enemy vessels access to surrounding areas The 12th Littoral Combat Team traces its lineage through the 1st Battalion which was deactivated in January at Camp Pendleton Its 25 battle streamers carried over to the combat team’s flag during the ceremony It was first activated in 1922 as 1st Battalion and was redeployed to Camp Schwab on Okinawa from December 1966 to January 1967 Recently my wife and I PCSed from Sasebo to Okinawa We decided to end our time in Kyushu in style and roadtripped our way to the island Our 10-day trip culminated in an ocean-going ferry ride from Kagoshima City to Okinawa with stops along the way to see the Amami Islands The Amami Islands are an archipelago partway between Kyushu and Okinawa These little islands are what you’re looking for in a tropical getaway— they’re lightly populated yet geared for tourists with beautiful landscapes of sea historic ruins and plenty of outdoor adventures lodging and food are very affordable and the people are among the friendliest we’ve ever encountered in Japan It is possible to fly to all four of the Amami Islands the ferry stops at driving with the car we will use in Okinawa made sense Compared with flying taking the ferry is easier requires far less inappropriate touching by security personnel there’s no unpleasantness because they felt the one-inch nail file on my toenail clippers was “threatening.” (Both true stories.) There’s also a certain adventurousness that comes with arriving via ship to a freight terminal on a remote island Calling it a ferry is a misnomer as ocean-going ferries are more inter-island freight vessels with passenger service on the side It’s more akin to a cargo ship than the little boats which cross rivers and bays that come to mind when you say “ferry.” Two ferry companies service the same routes on alternate days There is little difference between them in either service or cost and we used both during our trip A full trip from Kyushu to Okinawa takes about 25 hours so there is one stop at each destination every day by one of the two companies Arranging for a trip was easy but requires a Japanese speaker for easy navigation if dealing with the company My wife called ahead of time to check the schedule and though we didn’t make reservations we were able to show up an hour before boarding to purchase tickets By calling ahead you can also see what special deals are available such as unlimited stops during a set period (Think bumming between islands for a week whenever you feel like.) An alternate choice is going online and buying tickets through an English-language ferry website like aferry.com Since we brought a car we had to wait on the pier at Kagoshima’s Shinkoku Port in our vehicle until it was time to drive aboard We repeated this process two more times with no trouble at our two stops when we had to get back on Kagoshima’s friendly neighborhood active volcano had been smoking for a few days and our car got covered in a fine layer of ash while waiting The first leg of our trip to Amami Oshima was overnight and took off about an hour later when it was dark bringing a vehicle is only viable compared to flying when PCSing Renting a vehicle once you arrive on an island is a better option if you’re on holiday From Kagoshima to Naha the ferry is less than $150 a person if traveling on foot tickets between islands can be as low as $15 Bringing a car adds several hundred dollars to the equation The ferries offer three classes of accommodations for visitors which correspond only to sleeping arrangements; all passenger areas are open to everyone 2nd Class is a shared cabin and 3rd Class is Japanese style on the floor in a large open bay The trips were smooth with the ocean only gently rolling us in a sleep-inducing and lackadaisical manner Only on the overnight trip to Amami Oshima did we choose 2nd class accommodations which entailed a rack in a cabin for eight It’s pretty similar to a navy berthing minus about 100 people and that odor (You know the one.) There’s an open shelf for your bag and the ship also has smaller lockers for valuables that anyone can use Amami-Okinoerabujima and Okinoerabujima-Motobu (Okinawa) we chose 3rd Class accommodations as sleep wasn’t that relevant though we did nap at one point Dropping off cargo and passengers on schedule for these ferries means pre-dawn pitch black departures and us having to arrive an hour early for that The mat and small pillow weren’t bad for the short rests All ferries had open lounges and vending machines for food and drink It’s not the Titanic so don’t expect fine dining but the food here is still better than you’d get on certain commercial airlines A small gift shop also carries snacks and souvenirs I spent most of our trips sitting at a table reading H.P Lovecraft which in retrospect is not the best author for an open ocean voyage and eating Japanese snacks I’d brought with me We stopped and spent days on Amami Oshima and Okinoerabujima two islands with histories related to Saigo Takamori the man who inspired “The Last Samurai.” On each island we had only 24 hours to see the Saigo-related historic sites and museums take in the tropical countryside and learn a little about what made each island unique On Amami Oshima we tried local black sugar-based shochu at a brewery and on Okinoerabujima we explored the ruins of an ancient Ryukyuan castle overrun by the jungle What the islands had in common were the people as everyone we met was consistently friendly On two occasions we were invited for tea simply because we stopped off at a nearby historic site Another time we stopped by a museum that was closed due to the owner being out of town for a month so the nearby local goods shop/minimart clerk sat us down for her homemade lemongrass tea along with generous servings of their local sweets and a fresh papaya off we’d go on the ferry to our next little adventure typhoons need to be kept in mind as from June to November they may affect ferry service A very late season typhoon began developing while we were in Kagoshima so we pushed back our trip by a day to see how the weather would play out The ferries were running but having endured rough seas on a submarine tender inching toward Hong Kong years ago I’d rather wait a day than experience that unpleasantness again Rough seas at the island of debarkation may also make it impossible to get off and instead you’ll be taken to the next island We were given a warning the seas may be too rough to land at Okinoerabujima but our hotel on Amami Oshima told us that the ferry lines had been telling people that every day for a week and every day the ferries still landed Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan, Korea, Guam, and Okinawa with travel tips, restaurant reviews, recipes, community and event news, and more. Unpacking the ‘Blue Zone’ myth in Okinawa.For decades Okinawa has prided itself as a hot spot for longevity the Japanese islands were listed as one of five “Blue Zones,” where people statistically live the longest A strong diet and emphasis on human connection were thought to be some of the biggest contributing factors But new research suggests the entire concept of Blue Zones is a myth which was once said to have the world’s highest concentration of centenarians It’s an enticing premise. For decades, the “Blue Zones” have been touted as the five regions of the world where people live longer and healthier lives The Blue Zones, first popularized by National Geographic reporter Dan Buettner over 20 years ago Buettner found that people lived well into their 100s with relatively low rates of chronic diseases Buettner’s work, which expanded into books and a 2023 Netflix documentary series helped launch a global wellness trend that promises to unlock the secrets of longevity But what if everything that’s been told about these regions isn’t entirely true New research is challenging the foundational data behind the Blue Zones suggesting that the idea of these areas as extraordinary hot spots for longevity may not be as simple as it seems At the center of the critique is Saul Justin Newman, a senior research fellow at University College London. In September, Newman was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize from Massachusetts Institute of Technology for past research which found that the very factors credited with promoting long lives — diet community and genetics — might not be the primary drivers of longevity in these regions The real secret to longevity — according to Newman — is poor recordkeeping “These claims are devastatingly silly when you rack them up against any sort of meaningful evidence,” Newman said In a 2019 study, Newman tracked down over 100 centenarians worldwide, only to find that many of them were, in fact, not as old as official documents suggested. In Japan, Newman found a 2010 investigation that revealed that more than 230,000 individuals who were registered as over 100 years old had actually died years earlier Newman argues that the Blue Zones may have been misrepresented due to errors in birth records a common issue in areas with high poverty and limited access to health care In regions where birth certificates are rare or unreliable it’s possible that people who are much younger than reported are being classified as centenarians artificially inflating longevity statistics His findings have raised serious questions about the accuracy of the data that Buettner and others have used to tout the success of the Blue Zones is home to an exceptionally high number of healthy centenarians is based on figures that may not hold up under scrutiny Okinawa has long been a centerpiece of the Blue Zone narrative Its residents are celebrated for their healthy diets low-stress lifestyles and strong social ties Many of the region’s centenarians are often cited as proof of the health benefits of traditional Okinawan living But once you look at the numbers with a bit more scrutiny the prefecture’s health statistics reveal a more-complicated picture Newman has criticized the claims that Okinawa’s healthy lifestyle is the key to its high number of centenarians Okinawa ranks among the highest in Japan for obesity and it has one of the country’s highest suicide rates “There’s a claim that Okinawans are vegetarian,” Newman said “They are dead last in vegetable consumption in Japan.”  The island also has the highest body mass index (BMI) out of 47 prefectures in Japan This challenges the central idea that Okinawans’ longevity is the result of a low-stress While there’s no doubt that Okinawa’s traditional diet — rich in vegetables like sweet potatoes carrots and greens — has some health benefits the broader lifestyle factors don’t fit the Blue Zone model the Blue Zone concept has proven to be resilient evolving into a global brand with a wide-reaching influence In Okinawa, Blue Zone tours have become an important part of the local economy Tourists come to experience the lifestyle of the region’s elderly residents and learn the secrets behind their longevity These tours often highlight Okinawan cuisine which includes farm-to-table meals full of colorful vegetables While the meals are undoubtedly healthy, they also only tell one part of the story. Younger generations in Okinawa are increasingly turning to fast food KFC and other global chains becoming more popular over the last two decades suggests that Okinawa’s diet may be evolving away from the one that’s traditionally been associated with longevity with wellness enthusiasts flocking to these regions in search of the secrets to a long life In Okinawa, family-run restaurants like the Emi no Mise have embraced the trend serving farm-to-table meals to tourists eager to experience the Blue Zone lifestyle firsthand One of them is Australian tourist Sean Dooley records would have been destroyed over time,” Dooley said adding that he’s heard about Newman’s research on the Blue Zones so you can’t deny that — and they’re all fit.” Dr. Makoto Suzuki, a cardiologist and geriatrician based in Okinawa, has been studying the Okinawan secret to longevity for decades Suzuki said that the answer lies not in diet alone but in strong social bonds and sense of purpose that many elderly residents share Suzuki pointed to two key principles: moai and ikigai a network of friends and family who provide emotional and practical support throughout life older adults tend to maintain close relationships with others which contributes to a sense of belonging and emotional wellbeing which translates to “reason for being,” is a concept that emphasizes finding purpose in life he started to learn how to play the sanlele — a three-string instrument that resembles a ukulele credited her long life to a lifetime of farming and close family ties Over an afternoon of coffee and Okinawan doughnuts with her two daughters Yamashiro said that she’s constantly surrounded by people she shook her head — almost as if she didn’t understand the question eat a healthy diet — and do some exercise.” delivered to your inbox every weekday morning Thanks to our sponsor PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402 Okinawa — Researchers found high concentrations of toxic “forever chemicals” in seawater offshore Okinawa in 2023 and Japanese scientists measured a total PFAS concentration of 164.3 parts per trillion in a single seawater sample taken in June 2023 near Kadena Marina The finding represents the highest total PFAS concentration among 61 surface water samples collected across Okinawa conducted by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Florida Japan’s Environment Ministry in December set a water quality standard of 50 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA Environmental Protection Agency refers to them as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment PFAS exposure has been linked to an increased risk of certain tumors in the liver The EPA has stated that no level of PFAS is safe in drinking water A common source of PFAS contamination was aqueous film-forming foam used by military firefighters at U.S Forces Japan announced last year that it had incinerated its last stockpiles PFAS is also found in water-repellent fabrics and nonstick cookware The 2023 study did not collect samples from former or current U.S military bases on Okinawa and cannot directly identify them as the source of contamination a marine science professor at the Okinawa institute who contributed to the study “But it’s possible that there is a strong correlation there if you look at the map,” he said by email Tuesday University of Florida associate professor John Bowden said pinpointing specific PFAS sources on Okinawa the wastewater treatment plants only remove about 10% or so PFAS from the effluent that goes back into our water,” he said by phone Wednesday The 2023 study measured PFOS and PFOA at 78.9 parts per trillion in the marina sample the 18th Aerospace Medical Squadron commissioned an analysis of two water samples taken from a fire training site at Kadena Air Base Maxxam Analytics laboratories found PFOS concentrations at 500 parts per trillion and PFOA at 66 parts per trillion according to the publicly released results obtained by Stars and Stripes A 2019 report from the Okinawa Prefectural Enterprise Bureau indicated that two underground water surveys in Kadena town also detected high PFAS concentrations The level detected was as high as 3,128 parts per trillion in Yara Ubuga in the town The 18th Wing at Kadena acknowledged questions about the 2023 study emailed by Stars and Stripes on Tuesday but had not provided responses as of Thursday afternoon The 2023 study found the second-highest total PFAS concentration in a groundwater sample from Ukka Gaa Spring near Marine Corps Camp Hansen PFOS and PFOA concentrations there measured 76.2 parts per trillion A seawater sample south of Kadena Air Base contained a total PFAS level of 85.8 parts per trillion The PFOS and PFOA concentrations in that sample Bowden said he hopes to conduct further research on seasonal PFAS fluctuations and their potential impact on wildlife fishing and recreation in more densely populated areas of the island Okinawa — Japanese police are investigating email threats that targeted 32 U.S warning of planned explosions unless a ransom is paid The threats were sent through the Okinawa prefectural and Naha city websites on Tuesday evening military facilities would be bombed on Sunday and that “a large number of Americans” would be killed unless approximately $120,860 is transferred to multiple bank accounts A prefectural government spokesman declined by phone Thursday to identify who signed the emails The prefectural government and Naha city officials alerted the Okinawa Prefectural Police Department and the Okinawa Defense Bureau Kadena Air Base and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma were among the installations named in the threats according to the prefectural government spokesman officials declined to provide a full list of the targeted sites military operates 31 bases on Okinawa and shares another with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces Marine Corps Installations Pacific is aware of the threat and is working with Japanese authorities we do not perceive a credible threat” to U.S personnel covered under the status of forces agreement referring to the pact that governs the rights and responsibilities of U.S military personnel and their families in Japan Navy installations on Okinawa did not receive any direct threats spokeswoman Candice Barber wrote in an email Thursday The Air Force’s 18th Wing at Kadena acknowledged questions about the threat but did not immediately provide a response Thursday A spokesman for Okinawa Prefectural Police said authorities are considering whether to investigate the case as “forcible obstruction of business,” a criminal offense under Japan’s penal code “We will decide that after collecting and checking all of the evidence,” he said A spokesman for the Okinawa Defense Bureau declined to comment citing police concerns over potential copycat incidents Some government spokespeople in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.