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U.S. naval officers at Japan base removed over 'misconduct'

94 Comments
By Kazuhiro Nogi

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I can't wait to hear the outrage over this. It's not as if, "I was drunk and don't remember" isn't the stock defense of Japanese dudes that get knicked.

7 ( +16 / -9 )

The U.S. Navy said on Friday it had removed three senior officers deployed in Japan for "personal misconduct," after one was reportedly found wandering the base drunk and naked.

FYI there were 2 officers removed and 1 senior enlisted. A command master chief is NOT an officer. Be nice to have the article corrected.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Okinawa hosts the bulk of some 47,000 U.S. troops based in Japan, and their presence has been a source of friction with some local residents.

The prefecture was the site of a major World War II battle that was followed by a 27-year U.S. occupation of the island, and it would serve as a launchpad for any American military activity in Asia.

Why is this copy-pasted into seemingly every single article about bases in Okinawa?

16 ( +23 / -7 )

Commander James Cho and Command Master Chief Jason Holden were sacked for their handling of the incident, the newspaper added.

Meaning they tried to cover it up as part of the good old boy system, and got caught

26 ( +26 / -0 )

Commander Jason Gabbard was discovered in the woods wearing only his boots.

Hey I hate the US forces here in Japan, but give this guy some credit, he was doing commando training on his own time ... lol ... Hats off to you Commander Jason Gabbard.

1 ( +14 / -13 )

Master Chief is a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Master Chief is a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer

Hell some folks can be pedantic, and no matter how much you try to include him as an "officer", he still has to salute a 2nd Lieutenant , and eat in the enlisted galley, and can't get a house in "O" country.

He is not an officer by definition of the rank status of the United States military. He is Enlisted!

6 ( +12 / -6 )

So now even minor misconduct on the base is being reported and yes... a naked drunk guy is minor. Heck I've done that one myself.

-1 ( +12 / -13 )

a naked drunk guy is minor. Heck I've done that one myself.

Any drinker worth their salt has, correct?

5 ( +9 / -4 )

It says in the article that he was on camp at the time of the incident. If so, I really don’t see a problem that warrants removal from post.

On the other hand, posting of unauthorized signs, posters, placards, etc on private or national property is against the law, and several environmental ordinances.

The protestors in Okinawa have had an unbelievable amount of leniency shown to them by the police and base security, but when a few trouble makers are arrested they scream discrimination.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

So now even minor misconduct on the base is being reported and yes... a naked drunk guy is minor. Heck I've done that one myself.

It's only being "reported" because it was originally put out in the Stars and Stripes, the "author" rewrote the article embellished it with misinformation , and republished here. on JT

https://okinawa.stripes.com/news/seabee-leaders-dismissed-after-drunken-officer-found-wandering-naked-okinawa

This link has a picture of each of the men.

https://www.stripes.com/seabee-leaders-dismissed-after-drunken-officer-is-found-wandering-naked-on-okinawa-1.511920

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

With the increasing scrutiny of military personnel and base operations, a servicemen/women can’t even pick a booger without some sort of disciplinary action, I guess.

If the staff officers thought a naked man would undermine authority, they have obviously lost touch with the junior enlisted. Of anything they would respect a hard-drinking, mischief-prone officer more.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

He should have had some of that Yokusuka LSD and claimed he was in bat country.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Wasn't there a certain Arashi member who did the same thing, dancing naked and drunk, in public no less, but there wasn't nearly as much a do

2 ( +6 / -4 )

It says in the article that he was on camp at the time of the incident. If so, I really don’t see a problem that warrants removal from post.

I get the impression that, and a large part due to the totally misleading picture attached to the article here, folks are getting the wrong idea about "why"

This has NOTHING to do with them being stationed in Okinawa. If he had done the same thing at a stateside base, odds are VERY high the same thing would have happened.

He was not removed "from post", but removed from command, for conduct unbecoming an officer, and the other two, for covering it up. This is being used HERE to stir up more discontent regarding the bases here in Okinawa. Again, this has ZERO to do about Okinawa, and has NOT been reported in the local press.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I think it was one of the guys from SMAP who did the same this - he got a free pass - put down to the 'stresses of the job'

3 ( +5 / -2 )

LMAO

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Drunk and wandering around naked in the woods sounds way more sane than the actual mission of everyone else on the base. And Cho and the MasterChief did what they should have done. If drunk and wandering around naked is any less sane a behavior than making a career in the Navy in the first place, I don't see it. But these are scapegoats, collateral victims of the real senior officer (admirals) incompetence which political promotion promotes. And kudos to Chief Holden who risked a lot to save an officer. You're the Navy Sir. No good man, even an officer, left behind or abandoned in crisis. Hand Salute!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Question:

The old lady in the photo is putting up signs that say "No more US bases"

Does that mean they would accept Japanese bases in their place? Or would they take issue with that?

I can't help but think there is perhaps a racial motive behind these protests.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Nick in Japan

Hating on the US forces is kinda hating on modern Japan in general imo.

Most stories have a beginning and an ending. Did you just jump in in the middle and form an opinion? Perhaps you prefer 1944 Japan?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Hey I hate the US forces here in Japan

Why?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

@ Snickers - you're right, it was SMAP, thanks

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Oh no! A sailor got drunk on the base, didn't hurt anyone and three people were already punished! Quick someone stage a protest!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Hey I hate the US forces here in Japan

Why?

It seems to be the cool thing to do for foreigners living in Japan.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Not defending the officer's misconduct but why was this made to be such a big issue? It was on an American base which is American soil. Oh and nice choice of picture for this article...NOT!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Imagine if this woman were out helping charities and not wasting her time on misdirected anger while her governent, and in turn she, receives money for hosting the bases. Wasn't there just a case of an Okinawan raping a young woman? Shouldn't she be more concerned about that than showing the little girl next to her what pooping where you eat means.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

There is no reason for the US military to be here in the first place. Okinawa is not US territory. WWII ended 70 years ago. If they absolutely HAVE TO be here, then they should pay their way. There should be NO omoyarikin (protection money) and the US should pay rent at the same rate that we would if we used the land. They would soon downsize Kadena if that happened!

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

These 3 guys, while undoubtedly are in the wrong, are simply being used as a PR stunt by the US military on Okinawa.

I am guessing, behind closed doors, they would have been told this and the moves/transfers etc as stated in the article itself, will simply be temporary and they will be put back into decent positions for taking one for the team. Possibly the drunken streaker will be feeling a bit more heat for having caused the whole incident but who knows, maybe not. Semper Fi!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Maybe he was supposed to be on alert or something. The JOC did say to the Japan based marines training in Darwin that they should be treating every day as if it were the last day of peace for them, so maybe something is about to start

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@thepersoniamnow ... Having worked alone side US forces in the past, I find them more of a danger to their allies and themselves then the enemy. US forces trained with us back in the 1980's, and they did nothing but complain about everything the Australian forces did, the US guys even complained about how much food was in the ratpak, 1 days ratpak(3 meals) for us Aussie was 1 meal for the yanks according to the cry babies, they refused to go out on a training mission until they had more rations. So nope have no respect or time for them.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

BerrieWooster

I guarantee you if it werent for the USA there would be no way YOU would be here in Japan either. LOL!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Nick in Japan

So you met some American soldiers, didnt like them (fought over rations) figured you’d lump everyone all together, and then you formed an opinion that you hate the US military in Japan.

Well thats just great.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

@Nick in Japan... that was the 80's... sure they might still complain over Aussie Rations but U.S. Forces then, compared to now, are two different things. Or do you think nothing has changed in 30 years Nick?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"No more US bases!" is a Japanese-English slogan, meaning "(We've had) enough of/with US bases here, we've reached our limits, we've been patient long enough, US bases out!"

It does not mean "we would be happy with Japanese/Chinese bases instead", and it does not mean "we are happy with the number of bases already here, but we do not want any more of them", even though logically that is what the signs mean in natural English.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@thepersoniamnow I worked in close protection and as a security manger here in Japan until 2007, I dealt with a lot of US forces here, that did nothing but big note themselves when there were in the brown stuff. The number of times my staff got the "Im American and will **** you up" from idiots they were trying to toss out for bad behaviour is not funny, and YES they were US forces, rule for the gentleman's club I worked was no one entered unless they showed ID and most of the yanks showed their military ID cards, everyone else passports or gaikokujin cards. So my view from the 1980's and now is still the same.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Back in the day, I served in 1 Para, and did a whole bunch of training with the 82nd. I admired their skills and esprit de corps. They had all the equipment they needed to get the job done. Which is more than we did.

I have nothing but admiration for the US military. I'm very happy they are here in Japan as I believe we would have more issues to deal with if they weren't here.

(We spanked them 9-0 in an impromptu  boxing/milling competition though...haha)

1 ( +4 / -3 )

At the end of the day, MORE YANKS IN MORE TROUBLE AGAIN. Thats the fact of the matter.

Japanese justice, not yank justice. Jail in Japan the deport back to uncle trump.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Japanese justice, not yank justice. Jail in Japan the deport back to uncle trump.

What an ignorant reply, even if he was caught running around off base, he would NOT be put in jail. Plain and simple.

The military takes a hard stance on alcohol abuse and this is a gesture showing that rank doesnt matter!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Yep.

On base naked.

No deaths , assaults , rapes etc.

Nothing much here....

2 ( +5 / -3 )

It's always the case that the U.S. military authorities attribute such "mishaps" to individual service members. When an Osprey crash-landed near Abu District, Nago City, on Dec. 13, 2016 or a CH53E transport helicopter crashed near Takae District, Higashi Village, on Oct. 11, 2017, all the blame was put on pilots.

They don't realize that it is the fact of Okinawa  being forced to host "the bulk of some 47,000 U.S. troops based in Japan," that is the real cause for such mishaps whereby one can definitely say that the ultimate responsibility rests with the U.S. military authorities and the U.S. government themselves.

Dosn't it sound funny  for the military suthorities to say "Trust is the foundation for everything we do as military professionals, and we expect our service members to conduct themselves with the integrity and character to justify that trust"?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

It is a sad day when you cannot run around 'your own yard' naked except for army boots. i mean, who hasn't done that? recently? often?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Drunken/naked antics are all part of being in the military. Soldiers train hard and get bored if not actively used.

As has been said...it all occurred on base so no harm, no foul.

I'm not American but I find the term Yank and Yankees used by some on here with a negative connotation to be offensive.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Your own yard is actually occupied okinawans land. With the impending attack on NK in the spring, officers on base shouldn’t be so drunk, they should be on 24hr alert. Imagine if order to attack suddenly came, where would he put his pistol?

On the positive side, at least didn’t happen in the street off-base.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

No country likes another billeted on its territory. In WW II Americans based in Britain were also disliked by many: "They're overpaid they're over-sexed, and what's worse, they're over here" was a saying often heard. At least then there was a tangible and active enemy to justify their presence. Until North Korea started getting aggressive recently, all there was was American paranoia.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The only reason he would be naked in the woods is because of that seduction of that ghost that lives there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Your own yard is actually occupied okinawans land.

No. It is leased land that the US annually pays millions of dollars to the civilian owners to use.

With the impending attack on NK in the spring, officers on base shouldn’t be so drunk, they should be on 24hr alert. Imagine if order to attack suddenly came, where would he put his pistol?

A military operation takes weeks of planning, preparation and training to execute. Even if he were drunk and naked on D-day he has a good 12hrs to sober up on the ship ride to NK.

By the way. Care to mention how you are so privy to US military secrets.

On the positive side, at least didn’t happen in the street off-base.

Public nudity happens all the time all over the world. The perpetrators are usually nudists, drunks, and PETA protestors.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Hmm. I don't understand - I was under the impression that there was a ban on alcohol for all military personnel?

Perhaps it's time to rethink the presence of these bases on Japan before anyone is hurt.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Id like to tell the woman in the photo: 'Not in your day, dear...'

These lame protesters have way too much time on their hands. Its ignorance, too. Okinawa is so much better off with the bases, and most agree to that FACT. Protesters like this woman in the picture need to learn the FACTS of their own country first.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I agree. Anyone who is familiar with the real estate situation in Okinawa knows that renting apartments and land to the US military is huge business of its own. Then there are there the car dealerships that cater specifically to US servicemen “Y” numbers. Not to mention that without the bases, towns like Koza, Ginowan and Kin would be dead or have never developed.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Is it just me or did anyone else notice the photo and headline of this?

kind of suggestive journalism!

makes on think the Japanese media is extremely biased.

Why is this even reported outside of the military community when it is a completely internal matter?

i could understand if he was off post, but that isn’t the case.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

An senior officer running around drunk and naked. Conduct unbecoming of an officer. For enlisted- not a big deal.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The old lady in the photo is putting up signs that say "No more US bases"

No. It actually says “Please wander closer to the camp perimeter fence, drunken naked American sailor boys”.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So patriotic and American!  “They are not our friend, believe me,” “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” MAGA in its finest!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Nick in Japan

Along with many British (and former colonies) and Europeans and people from certain countries around the world, it’s popular and even in the culture to bash America. When I went to England, people were straight up racist and even threatening to Americans.

Im just telling you, that your negative experiences (rations, bullies) etc are just that. Don’t put it on a whole race. I’ve met many nasty Aussies but I am actually on my way downtown now after closing up work to see my good Aussie friend come over from Perth.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Some posters are correct about the photo. Off topic, should be a naked marine wearing boots. Pixilated of course.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm surprised this even made the news. It's not like the group of Okinawan men that streak down Kokusai-dori during typhoons is ever mentioned.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Beerdeliveryguy,

No. It is leased land that the US annually pays millions of dollars to the civilian owners to use.

Apparently, you haven't read my comments posted elsewhere. 

The U.S. government started paying land rents to private owners of base land in 1952 when Okinawa was put under U.S. trusteeship after the San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed. Lands were classified as house plots, paddy fields, farms, forests, plains, worshipping places like uganju, miscellaneous plots, ponds and forest reserves.

The land rent during the 1959-1972 period for Rank A house plots was $0.76 per tsubo (3.31 square meters). How much did a bottle of Coca Cola cost that time? Indeed, the land owners jeered the payment by saying land was not worth a Coca Cola!.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Beerdeliveryguy,

Note that after the reversion of Okinawa in 1972 the Japanese government took the place of the U.S. government completely for paying land rents whereby land rents have been paid by the  Japanese government directly with an initial increment of more than 6 times.

This measure is said to have been taken in order to prevent reluctant land owners from not signing renewal of leasing contracts. The land rents have been increased every time leasing contracts were renewed thereafter.

That the Japanese government pays land rents means that it's the Japanese taxpayers, including us Okinawans, that shoulder the payment of land rents for the U.S.! What an absurdity!  But common sense doesn't work in this suzerain-vassal relationship between the two countries.

.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Lucky for the naked guy that the base is in Okinawa, if the base was in Niigata or Fukii he would now have very bad frost bite!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Not to mention that without the bases, towns like Koza, Ginowan and Kin would be dead or have never developed.

On all three you are wrong, those towns, actually only Kin is a town, the other two cities, would be around with or without the bases.

That the Japanese government pays land rents means that it's the Japanese taxpayers, including us Okinawans, 

Like I said, someone tells a lie enough times they start believing it, neither Japanese nor Okinawan are you!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Semantics aside, do you really think those cities/towns would have developed to their current state without the bases?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

BeerDeliveryGuy,

You also mention renting apartments and Y-number cars which U.S. service members buy and repair at local car dealers and repair shops, suggesting it's huge business of its own benefiting local economy. So let me ask you some questions, assuming that you are a U.S. service member stationed on Okinawa. 

When you rent an apartment or a house off base, how much of the rent and utilities do you have to pay yourself? How about car repairs at a local repair shop? Japanese car owners are required by law to have their cars inspected and the engines tuned every two years with costs amounting to more than 50 thousand yen each time. Are U.S. service members subject to such legal requirement?

When you take your car to the Naha-Nago speedway, how much do you pay for the toll? We pay 950 yen. 

If the amount you share is minuscule, then all the rest of the cost is borne by Japanese taxpayers.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Off base resident Military personnel live in contracted real estate. The rent is lower than market standard, but the DOD pays the difference to the owner. If you choose to live in non-contracted apartments, you pay the full market price.

I am aware that Y numbers are not required to have “Shaken” but the lawmakers never anticipated individual servicemen to stay longer than two years anyways.

If you are trying to point out discrepancies and unfairness in taxation and subsidies, there are far better targets than the US military.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I can understand the anti-US army base sentiment. We also don't want US army bases at home in Australia and we're actually culturally similar. I admit, because I come from an army town, my perception of soldiers (especially foreign forces) is really negative.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

voiceofokinawa: "Apparently, you haven't read my comments posted elsewhere."

Or he has, and knows that you are not only wrong with most of your comments on the issue, but extremely bias and exaggerate even the untruths. I think Yubaru nailed you pretty well yet again on said untruths, and THAT is whom Beerdeliveryguy needs to read.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Defenders say that after the end of the cold war, the US military has lost is sense of meaning.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Semantics aside, do you really think those cities/towns would have developed to their current state without the bases?

In living here well over 3 decades I will say this, the only "town" that really was developed in a huge part to the fact that they host a base, is Kadena Town.

The rest, starting with "Koza", which is now called Okinawa CIty, is not even centrally located on the base, the Koza Intersection, is far away from Kadena, and is actually on the literal outskirts of the city.

THAT area near the bases is dying, big time. Central Park Ave, which was formerly called BC Street, was an area that serviced, literally, the US military, and few "locals" spend any time or money there, the "heart" of Koza is far away, and has developed fine without the base. It's the area near the base that is falling apart, because the military alone can not support it. Gate 2 street, is a ghost of what it once was, and all the area around it too.

Ginowan, is similar, the area around MCAS Futenma is in reality pretty run down, the rest of the city however is doing fine without it. Futenma is in the way, is dangerous, and for further development of the city, needs to be moved ASAP. Been waiting over 20 years now!

Kin....well, outside of the bar district, and the funding the town gets for hosting the base, maybe it would not be SO developed, if you consider what is there now developed, but it would be a small, farming orientated village.

Which BTW is due to receive a HUGE influx of money and development as Hilton Hotels International is planning a very large resort development in the area which has NOTHING to do with the base.

Dont know if you know this, but here in Okinawa now, and nothing to do with the bases either, are Hyatt Hotels, Ritz Carlton, Mariott, Sheraton, Best Western, Intercontinental and others, that see Okinawa as a prime location for further tourism in Asia, and NONE of that concerns the bases either.

Okinawa CAN survive without the bases. SO dont think that the bases are what keeps Okinawa alive, that is no longer true.

I wont even get started on what will happen when the new runway at Naha airport is completed and what that means in the bigger scheme of things here, economically speaking.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well you obviously know the local situation better than I do.

I wish you luck and hope the Japanese miltary and coast guard can provide as strong a deterrent when/if the troop reductions do happen.

Many (junior enlisted) US servicemen would be happy to leave Okinawa as well, due to the lack of freedoms and strict disciplinary measures.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In a way a funny story. However, any military must be built upon the type of personnel available. You get what you get.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

BeerDeliveryGuy:Today | 06:48 pm JST,

The rent is lower than market standard, but the DOD pays the difference to the owner

The DoD pays the difference, to be sure, but do you know where the money originally comes from?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The DoD pays the difference, to be sure, but do you know where the money originally comes from?

Ostensibly from US tax payers. In reality, China and Japan buyingUS government bonds (debt), which US taxpayers are ultimately responsible to repay.

Care to oversimplify anything else?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Tommy Jones,

Since 1978 the U.S. has cashed in a large amount of base maintenance costs the Japanese taxpayers pay which the U.S. side euphemistically call "host nation support". It will amount to \946,500,000,000 (or about $9 billion) for the 5 year period that started in fiscal year 2016.

The Japanese people derogatorily call this "sympathy budget" becasue there's no legal basis for Japan to pay such money to the U.S. coffers. Now, my suspicion is whether or not this money is being used as part of the housing and utilities expenses for U.S. service members living off base.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

They will be sent back to Camp Pendleton I Huntington Beach in Orange County, Calif. Off duty soldiers can go to Disneyland by walking across Pacific Coast Highway but they wear civilian clothes to go across. Drunks were not allowed in Disneyland.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Some large Mainland corporations are itchy to create branches in Okinawa. Go checki Ishigaki jima. Sumitomomalready created a motorcycle factory.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The figure was quoted from an article of the Dec. 16, 2015 Mainichi Shimbun headlined as "Sympathy Budget: Bilateral Agreement Reached with a Slight Increase for the 5-year Period Starting 2016”(思いやり予算 6年度から5年間微増 日米合意).

Let me also quote a passage from CNN online news for your reference.

Japan, struggling to restore its financial health, is apparently calling for a decrease of more than 50 billion yen ($415 million) from fiscal year 2016, beginning next April, from the current approximate 190 billion yen yearly spend, according to the sources. (“Japan seeks cut in host-nation support for U.S. forces”: CNN: Oct. 24, 2015)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yubaru,

The Okinawa Times reports the news to the same effect as Mainichi.. Link to [「日米軍思いやり予算、微増で合意」 沖縄タイムス 2015年12月16日 17:35

The CNN online article may not be available any longer but I have the whole text preserved on my PC. Do you want me to paste it all here? And you persist to say I am concocting the whole story if I don’t?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Let me quote from Reuters' Oct. 26, 2015 article, "Japan MOF seeks cuts in host-nation spending for U.S. military" :

Japan’s contribution, or the “sympathy budget”, to cover salaries for workers at U.S. bases, utilities and training expenses, hit 189.9 billion yen ($1.56 billion) for the current fiscal year, versus a 4.98 trillion yen overall defense outlay.

Refer also to: "Japan seeks cut in host-nation support for U.S. forces" The Japan Times: Oct 23, 2015

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Right now,, US National budget discussions are in trouble.. Because both SK and Japan pay cost of US military forces in their countries, Pentagon officials had many lawmakers agree to delay discussions of military budget. This means there will be more US proposal to have increased payment from Japan. Notice Abe is telling Japan is still in economic trouble. He does not want to help Trump plan to get money from Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In the American military everything is legal as long as you don't get caught. The 2 officers were in violation of the 'officer and gentlemen' clause. This is a US military matter. If this happened in a Japanese town, then the Japanese authorities would be handling it. As per usual, the caught personnel were shuffled to another command for their embarrassing bad behavior and as usual everything else was done by the new Golden Rule - KEEP IT DARK.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The fact that my comments may sound dishonest and out of common sense to some posters here clearly suggests that common sense isn't working in the post-war Japan-U.S. relationship.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

In the American military everything is legal as long as you don't get caught. The 2 officers were in violation of the 'officer and gentlemen' clause. This is a US military matter. If this happened in a Japanese town, then the Japanese authorities would be handling it. As per usual, the caught personnel were shuffled to another command for their embarrassing bad behavior and as usual everything else was done by the new Golden Rule - KEEP IT DARK.

Let’s say you were senior manager of a company branch office and a division supervisor got drunk after an office party, and was found naked in the corner of a supplies cabinet.

What would you do?

Immediately call the police and HQ Human Resources department.

Notify the press and arrange a press conference.

Transfer the supervisor to a different branch office.

Find his clothes and call a taxi.
1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't think the naked officer brought ghetto. Let's stop being discriminatory. Haven't heard ghetto dwellers walk naked.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

News reports from 3 year ago are outdated and if anyone actually reads the articles they are regarding what the MOF intended to negotiate with the US government but never happened.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yubaru,

It's mind-boggling that you still don't believe the two countries struck an agreement concerning "the sympathy budget" for the 5-year period starting 2016, which will be 946.5 billion yen or an average 189.3 yen per annum.

According to the MOD's statistics ( http://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/zaibeigun/us_keihi/suii_img.pdf), the amount Japan paid in fiscal 2016 was 189.9 billion yen and 192 billion yen in fiscal 2017.

The figures were announced by the Japanese government. Can you say there’s a doubt about their credibility?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Never said there wasn't any sympathy money, I am also saying that the information that you commonly state here as facts, are not.

The Japanese people derogatorily call this "sympathy budget" becasue there's no legal basis for Japan to pay such money to the U.S. coffers. Now, my suspicion is whether or not this money is being used as part of the housing and utilities expenses for U.S. service members living off base.

YOU use the word derogatorily not the Japanese, you shade your "information" with bits and pieces of facts, and pass off suppositions as reality.

If you are so smart in thinking you KNOW, then you know damn well that the Japanese government is also subsidizing a host of other things for the individual US military members and their families.

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@nickinjapan

So you judge the entirety of the US military on a group of soldiers you worked with 30 plus years ago and a bunch you met in a strip club. Sure, that sounds like a reasonable cross section to base your opinion on. I'll go ahead and form my opinion of all Australians on what I saw in the Crocodile Dundee movies. I mean, all Australians must act like that right?

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Yubaru,

I re-read what you said in your post of Feb. 19 | 08:26 pm JST. You said:

News reports from 3 year ago are outdated and if anyone actually reads the articles they are regarding what the MOF intended to negotiate with the US government but never happened.

I think I proved how erroneous your statement was by showing the statistics made public by the MOD. But you are still repeating "the information that you commonly state here as facts, are not." without substantiating why you say so.

Incidentally, the MOD statistics I referred to is titled as "Transition of (Japan-paid) base maintenance expenses for USFJ" (在日米軍駐留経費負担の推移). It was initially called "sympathy budget" when Tokyo took the charge of shouldering labor costs for Washington in 1987 but the budget is widely and popularly known in Japan as such even today.

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The Japanese people derogatorily call this "sympathy budget" becasue there's no legal basis for Japan to pay such money to the U.S. coffers.

It's mind-boggling that anyone would decide out of hand that a agreement signed between two sovereign nations is "illegal" .

You have nothing to base that on other than your suspect opinion.

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Grilled during a Parliamentary session on what legal basis Japan must shoulder labor costs for the U.S., then Chief Cabinet Secretary Shin Kanemaru had no ready answer except saying Japan must contribute labor costs out of "sympathy" for a financially troubled U.S. government. This is the reason why the budget began to be called a "sympathy budget" in Japan. I think the legally dubious character of the budget still remains the same today.

Can Toyota U.S.A. and Honda U.S.A. ask the U.S. government to bear labor costs for them? I wonder how the U.S. citizens would react if their government started shouldering labor costs for the companies.

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Yubaru,

My personal opinion about whether the program of sympathy budget was legal or illegal may matter nothing. But you must know its legitimacy was severely questioned during a Dietary session and that the government couldn't give a satisfactory answer  except saying Japan agreed to it out of sympathy with the U.S. government.

Let me explain the problem using a metaphor again. The U.S. government may be able to grant the request by Toyota U.S.A. to disburse labor, utilities and facility maintenance costs for the company, but doesn't a U.S. citizen have every right to ask on what legal basis the government agreed to do so?

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