The news last week that U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Tyrone Hadnott had allegedly raped a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Okinawa sparked various degrees of condemnation from local citizens, politicians, the government and bloggers [ja], reigniting anger at the continued presence of American military bases in Japan's southernmost prefecture. While different in many ways from the current case, a famous gang rape by U.S. military personnel in 1995 remains fresh in the minds of many Okinawans, adding to feelings of frustration.
In describing cases of rape in Japan such as this one, media tend to avoid the word “rape” (強姦) in favor of the less direct expression “violence” (暴行). Freelance journalist and blogger Uesugi Takashi comments on this use of language, and on differences between local and national media in their coverage of the case:
また、米海兵隊員による性犯罪が発生しました。
『沖縄タイムズ』は号外を出し、比較的静かな本土との報道の差が気になります。
だいたい「少女暴行」とありますが、はっきり言って「未成年者への強姦」（レイプ）でしょう。
それを「暴行」と、言葉を緩める意味が果たしてあるのか？
「援助交際」とか「婦女暴行」とか、性犯罪用語を曖昧にする日本の報道は、被害者への配慮というよりも、加害者への贖罪意識の軽減につながってしまっているようです。
こうした性犯罪は、絶対許さないという姿勢で報じるように変えていくべきでしょう。
I sense the difference between the “Okinawa Times”, which put out an extra edition, and the relatively quiet mainland reporting on this.
[Mainland reporting] refers to it as something like an “violence against a young woman” (少女暴行), but speaking frankly, this is “rape of a minor” (未成年者への強姦).
Is there even any point in softening these words and referring to it as “violence” (暴行)?
In using terminology like “compensated dating” and “violence against young women” for sex crimes, Japanese reporting, more than considering the victim, tends to reduce the sense of atonement of the assailant.
There should be a change in attitude to one that absolutely does not put up with this kind of sex crime.
While there was considerable hostility voiced at the U.S. military presence, on Internet bulletin boards the incident also attracted heavy criticism targeted at the high-school girl herself [ja] for (allegedly) not being careful enough and allowing this incident to happen. One blogger, for example, wrote of the girl's “frivolousness”:
沖縄の米兵による中学生暴行事件
よく聞いたら
バイクに乗せて家まで送ってあげると言われて
バイクに乗ってしまったのが原因だとか
バカか・・・・
そんなの、暴行してくださいとお願いしてるようなもんよ
軽薄な行動が呼んだ事件としか言いようがない
この女の子の軽薄さに腹が立つ
If you listen carefully:
She was asked if she would like a lift home by motorbike,
And she actually got on the bike, that was the cause.
So stupid…
That kind of thing, it's just like asking: assault me please.
No way to describe this but as frivolous actions just asking for something to happen.
This girl's frivolousness really makes me angry.
Blogger VcCS expressed a similar sentiment:
沖縄県で、またもや米兵による強姦事件が発生！
女子中学生を乗用車に乗せ、車内で暴行をしたという。こういう事件を見ると、結果的には米兵の罪が問われるのだが、そこに至る経緯も気になる。決して、暴行に及んだ米兵をかばうつもりはない。
だけど、被害にあった女子学生は、米兵から声をかけられ、その誘いを受けたことで、こうした事件を招いている。それが知り合いであれば事情が変わったのかもしれないが、見知らぬ人からの誘いを受ける方にも問題があるように思えてならない。
沖縄という土地柄、米兵による強姦事件は後を絶たない。
だからこそ、その土地の女性はもっと用心すべきだ！それにもまして、親はもっと子供に責任を持つべきではないか？
過去に起こった事件から学び、もう少し責任ある行動を取ってもらいたい。
加害者がどんな裁きを受けようとも、被害者の傷跡は消すことが出来ないから
A girl in junior high school got into a car, and was assaulted inside. The American military should ultimately be held responsible for this crime, but I also wonder about the process that led up to it.
I absolutely do not want to defend the American soldier who called her [into the car].
But the high school girl who was victimized, the American soldier called out to her, and she accepted this invitation, so she asked for this incident [to happen]. It would be different if this was an acquaintance of hers, but I cannot help feeling that there is a problem with a person who accepts an invitation from someone they don't even know.
In the local character of Okinawa [*], these cases of rape by American military personnel are never-ending.
And that's exactly why girls in those places should be more careful! Even more than that, shouldn't parents take more responsibility for their children?
I want them to learn from past incidents and act a little more responsibility.
Because however the assailant ends up being charged, there is no way to erase the victims scars!
[*] Referring to the fact that Okinawa has many U.S. army bases.
For more about this story, see also this English-language post and a long set of comments responding to it.
50 comments
Here is some information on the unfair agreement that I talked about between Japan and the US since 1960.
You can also find the content of the agreement somewhere on the Internet. Please look it up and read carefully.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.-Japan_Status_of_Forces_Agreement
Just like Truth said, this kind of incident will keep happening
and if something has to be changed, it’s this old agreement.
As long as there is a law to favour military personnel over locals,
Okinawans have no choice but to speak out for our rights.
Putting up ‘Off limits’ everywhere and punishing everyone for one man’s bad behavior is such an ineffective way to prevent further crimes and everyone knows that including Okinawans,
it’s just a useless pose.
(But I suppose that’s the way military works
as you cannot afford one person’s mistake in wars.)
Many Okinawans and I’ve written letters to both Japanese and the US authorities demanding to review and change the laws.
I would like you guys to read through and make a positive and responsible action to change this situation.
Maki,
If that is the way you feel then ASK US TO LEAVE. PLEASE DO, most Americans do not want our troops in Japan if they aren’t wanted by the Japanese people. But please don’t ask for 1 dollar in local economic aid when we leave.
By the way, look at the history of the human race, you will find few examples of victors picking up a people they’ve defeated and putting them on their feet, like we did with Japan and Germany. Your welcome!
David
You give away your anti US bias rather blatantly. I suspect on any issue you choose to fault the US and bash Americans. I suspect you have never been to Okinawa know much more than what you’ve read. You just seize these opportunities as you find them.
David – “Spam-filled pizzas”??? In over 4 years of being in Okinawa and dining at Okinawan restaurants I have yet to see a “spam-filled pizza”. Maybe you could enlighten me as to where you dine!
Walkerny, you are the reason Americans are loathed.
Ignorance and arrogance is a particularly bad combination. I live in Kochinda in Okinawa by the way.
Many Americans, I hold dear in my heart but not the ones who bully the weak by taking their land and polluting their environment. (Henoko ring a bell?) leave it alone before its too late for the Dugongs!
Surely you know you are only here for the money and yet you try and still hide behind the lies?
Okinawan people dont deserve what you have done to them. Its best you move back home or to Kyushu after all the Japanese mainlanders are the ones who should give up their land for you to ruin. In WW2 They forced Okinawans with fear to leave their farms and protect their families, yet many ran away and hid in caves where the Japanese bullied them out and to become casualties.
The Japanese tried to remove this part from history hence last years protest by Okinawans.
Its obvious that the Japanese deserve your presence to make sure their corruption doesnt continue.
Okinawans should be left alone and their beaches and environment returned. What part is so hard for you to understand? You are bullying the wrong people.
Alternatively how about moving to Taiwan? since they are pouring trillions of dollars on your missile technology.
Dave,
My Jewish/American friend joked how he preferred to eat the shredded ham pizzas on one of your Bases than listening to Billy Ray Cystoid. I dont blame him. As for Okinawans restaurants have you tried Goya Champuru? Probably not since the spam would be the only thing on you palette.
Give Okinawa back to Okinawans.
I take it you are a Brit or an Australian? How about specializing on your own countries crimes. You obviously specialize in anti Americanism. The base on Okinawa makes ZERO money for the US. We grow no ‘worthless crops’ there. It is a forward base to help contain first the Soviets, and now North Korean and Chinese aggression. I’m sure you feel these are peace loving people compared to Americans.
We probably agree more than you know. I WOULD remove American troops from Korea, Okinawa, all of Japan, indeed most place. The FACT remains that those countries ask for our continued presence. Myself, I’d let them maintain their own defence, and the next time whatever country you come from is threatened by an aggressor, I’m all for letting what happens happen. I’m sure you suffer from some sort of inferiority complex and view every action by America as aggression. Go ahead, your type is never convinced, regardless of which way America acts. Whatever country you are from, please fund fully in treasure and blood your self defense. Time does pass and the next danger will surface. Don’t call us.
David – so you think I am American and/or live on base? Sorry – way off there! And I had goya champuru on Tuesday for my lunch actually. Nice, although I have to confess I do prefer yaki soba.
Do you still call it Kochinda BTW? I thought it combined into Yaese cho around the same time places like Uruma City were created.
Hi Walkerney,
Please LEAVE. Please take a real action and ask your government
to withdraw all the soldiers from Okinawa.
If ＜most Americans do not want our troops in Japan＞ this is the case, please get together with the most Americans and do something, demonstrations, creating posters, writing letters, going on strike, whatever.
We are doing whatever we can do to change this situation.
If both sides ask for the same thing, the result will come quicker.
My knowledge on the human history says victors expanded their market shares and turned losers into dependent consumers.
You might have called this helping in the 20th century;<
Just like David said, money doesn’t bring us real richness in life. Watch a documentary called ‘Power of Community’ and see how Cuban culture is thriving with such little stuff and how they are evolving as a human race. It’s really happening everywhere in the world.
People are tired of being just consumers, we’ve started to look for a real sustainable way of life based on a community level.
Also if you haven’t watched, watch this great documentary called ‘The Corporations’ filmed in 2004 by American directors.
I love these smart Americans with real courage.
By the way, did you read the agreement? If you did, let me know your opinion.
One question to be raised about this though is: could the Japanese afford the added cost of providing an adequate defence force if the US military withdrew from Japan? Japan doesn’t have much money left in their budget in the first and you would think the added expense of a fully fledged military (even a single B2 bomber costs billions of dolars) could be crippling. And I sincerely doubt hey could do without a military. Japan is trying to become the next permanent member of the Security Council and one of the reasons it is not so successful in its bid is because of a lack of military and its inability to conduct anything other than civil or self-defensive operations.
LOL!!! So that’s it then? The US soldier guy has been proven innocent of any bad intent what-so-ever and the people here on this forum still have to have their opinions and defend them to the point where they begin to fight each other?
LOL!!! I though internet users were supposed to be a bit brighter than average? Heh! Another urban legend busted. :(