U.S. Marines ordered not to enter some public places in Okinawa

Tuesday 04th November, 12:45 AM JST

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soldave at 10:19 AM JST - 4th November

Molenir - the problem is that they will deprive the Okinawans of catching fish/playing baseball etc. Stupid reason, but that's the one they will give. Oh, and the usual "they rack a disciprine".

Altria - Nice one!
IchyaParadise at 01:23 PM JST - 4th November

Man, this brings back memories. I remember back when we forced to stay our of certain areas in "Sinville" Kin town near Hansen and we had to catch the Loser Cruiser to Foster just to go the hook and jab...I mean the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. Guys fighting over the same old fat married chick. Memories...
Dollhopf at 06:23 PM JST - 4th November

Every human is selfish. If one lives in his own community that selfishness will be restricted by internalized values. Otherwise the community one lives in would break apart.

An U.S. marine is a stranger to the community of Okinawa. If a horny man is demanding sexual relief he is looking for the ressources in the surrounding. The leisure facilities there and also the schools are nothing but his hunting ground. The guy is driven by nothing but the rules of HIS OWN (military) community and his "dick". Understand that in the contrary the military could never allow young Japanese on post to be after any sweet young blonde female petty officer, because individual interests must agree with the overall goals of a community instead of interfering with them! For good reason the access on post is restricted for the Japanese, too.

If too many strangers life their selfishness in another community, than they will corrupt and destroy that community. But some comments here try to transfigure that simple truth into anti-Americanism.
elbudamexicano at 09:19 PM JST - 4th November

If they can't behave themselves in Okinawa they should automatically be sent over to Afganistan, where there is a lack of marines to fight againt terrorism.
BlueHeaven77 at 11:08 AM JST - 6th November

Oh please, stop thinking US is the protector of the world. Japanese people PAY with MONEY US military presence in Okinawa. But Okinawa people do not need and do not want that. It is US Army that need that strategic place.

And those justifications about the awful behavior of american soldiers are really pathetic. Soldiers are NOT civilians, they represent law and order, you can`t compare those to the japanese civilians! Overall american soldiers are GUESTS (= foreigners) too, so their behavior should be irreproachable anytime. Besides this american soldiers, everywhere in the world, in case of committing crimes are always subtracted from the (local) normal law pursuing, being reserved (absolutely unfairly) a special treatment, almost always resulting in a light punishment or even a nonsuit!

"Invaders, protection, drinking japanese, closing embassy (why??? are you normal? just because japanese dont want a foreign army in their land?!), dont giving up because of the strategic superioriority"? what the hell are talking of??? there is not a global war, and the world is not Risiko. The world do not need US "strategic superioriority", US does. But people are slaves of thier goverment in their own country, so they must suffer decisions they do not agree. Japanese poeple like many others too. Try to open your eyes please...
elbudamexicano at 06:35 PM JST - 6th November

I have been to Okinawa many times, so far I never saw the Marines acting stupid, drunk etc..in public. I have seen worse in Roppongi but just drunks, both Japanese and from other countries. Just because I have not witnessed US marines harassing the locals in Okinawa does not mean it does not happen.I do have good friends who are Marines and they are not happy with the few "bad apples" that ruin it for the rest the Marines who are doing a good job and staying out of trouble.
cagedislander at 07:45 PM JST - 6th November

Nothing worse than a foreigner speaking on behalf of an Okinawan! What they need, want, don't want, or don't care about is in their heads, not some civilian foreigner's working at the local college.

For everyone's information, the Okinawan media is VERY biased against the bases. The general population is not so much! The protests you see in the news (minus a few special occasions) are mainland Japanese that fly down to protest because they are anti-American anything.

Regardless of the military presence, the sudden withdrawl would cripple the Okinawan economy. Japan subsidizes everything on Okinawa to make up for the past and present.

The marines do act stupid on Okinawa. That will never change. The media puts pressure on new management. New management puts new restrictions on SOFA personnel. Silly things like a general order to pronounce Kadena in a Japanese way get drafted. Meanwhile, Okinawans are celebrating at the local festival and shrugging their shoulders and the marines are still acting like drunk children......

The tomb incidents would be really bad though! Okinawas are very respectfull of the dead.

On a side note, when it comes to Okinawans, they dislike mainland Japanese more than they dislike Americans. Not attacking but just speaking the truth.........
def at 11:26 PM JST - 7th November

The general population is not so much! The protests you see in the news (minus a few special occasions) are mainland Japanese that fly down to protest because they are anti-American anything.

On a side note, when it comes to Okinawans, they dislike mainland Japanese more than they dislike Americans. Not attacking but just speaking the truth.........

Absolutely not true, I've been living in Okinawa for years, and this is not true.
cagedislander at 10:18 AM JST - 8th November

To elaborate on my earlier comments, I don't mean that Okinawans are not against the bases. They are just not as fanatic about as the mainland Japanese that come down specifically to protest.

As far as Okinawans disliking mainland Japanese than more than Americans, well that part is simple and true......

Too many Americans hang out at izakaya's or the local beaches, speaking five words of Hogan and suddenly think they know Okinawa and have the right to speak as if they were one. No number of years on Okinawa makes you Okinawan. More Americans need to be reminded of that!
Damax6 at 10:19 PM JST - 8th November

well , well well. its about time the military vacate okinawa. I did a tour there in 88-90, i enjoyed my time there. i mingled with the okinawans, i joined the local matsuri drum group, who refuse me for 20+days straight, until they realized that i wasnt going to give up. i made good friends. some hated the americans, but they would JUMP at the chance to go on base to eat at the resturants , buy cheap liquor, or other goods at the PX.

Nationally Okinawans do not fair well with their mainland peers. BUT, they are hard-working and generally honest people. with that said, i cannot see why the military has to resort to this, this is very EXTREME.

Doing tours overseas is quite stressful, and going out and seeing the place that you are stationed is a MUST do. this is simple BULL.

Enough is enough, vacate okinawa and let the SDF protect japan, we dont need to be here anymore, especially when your presence is unwanted and unappreciated.
Blue_Tiger at 11:05 PM JST - 8th November

When the US Military does leave Okinawa, please tell the Okinawans not to complain too loudly when the Red Chinese PLA comes in and establishes their bases there instead. In fact, by that time, they may clamor for the "good ol' days" when US Troops WERE there....
rtrhead1 at 01:17 AM JST - 9th November

"Too many Americans hang out at izakaya's or the local beaches, speaking five words of Hogan and suddenly think they know Okinawa and have the right to speak as if they were one. No number of years on Okinawa makes you Okinawan. More Americans need to be reminded of that!"

wow. that's some pretty closed minded, borderline racial thinking. saying because someone wasn't born here means there's no way they can know what it's like is ridiculous. you are right that it doesn't make you okinawan. people have the right to speak however they want, okinawan or otherwise. you certainly don't speak for okinawans. do you know all of them? have you ran your little superiority complex through them to ensure that you do, in fact, speak for them? doubtful.
Anung at 11:32 AM JST - 10th November

Well Japan will be like Korea soon, curfew for everyone ALL US military personnel, and I think it's FABULOUS because some of these individuals need a taste of what it's like to have thier rights infringed on, and how it feels to be restricted. The Japanese residents feel like they are prisoners in thier own communities. Too afraid to go out afterdark in some locations. So yes I for one welcome it. I noticed how peaceful it was in Seoul after 1:00 AM when I went to visit a friend of mine. The Korean people embrace the curfew, and so should the Japanese. It was actually nice to go to a bar for once and not hear the utterly LOUD-Rude, unitelligible drunken conversations of US service members. I'm sorry for the ones that DO enjoy thier assignments and follow the local laws but hey this has gotta stop and at your expense i'm afraid.
yasukuni at 06:45 PM JST - 10th November

You have to feel sorry for the more than 99% of all the American military and govt workers and their families who do a great job and stay out of trouble down there year after year.
rtrhead1 at 10:40 AM JST - 13th November

anung, you have no idea what you're talking about. #1, you've never been locked down completely before from the way you're speaking. we were locked down for about a month. no going off base for anything other than going to another base, or if you got the commander to approve your request. #2, if a person goes to a bar that serves predominately young service members and get loud drunk service members, who's fault is that? i've talked to some women that I know who've been groped and felt on by quiet, unassuming, drunk old men in bars that serve mostly japanese. she shoulda knocked him out. but she didn't. you, and many like you see to think that because people are military, we will be able to stop every single moron from acting like a moron. perhaps you haven't heard, we are people too. people as in humans, imperfect humans. it will never stop. it doesn't matter if it is civilian or military. the day that people act perfect is the day that humans cease to exist. here's some advice, stay out of bars. drink at home. or even, don't drink. again, you have no idea what you're talking about.