Stephen Jez comments

This tired old issue always brings out the comments by folks with an agenda, bending the issue to meet their own views.

I'd still like to see a non-bias poll that shows precisely how many Okinawans are "against the bases". When I was living there it seemed like the vast majority didn't care either way, sho ga nai.

Still never understood why TVs are so expensive in Japan.

Pass, I'll take a custom built PC over any console.

PC master race :)

Another dead link and grasping at straws again.

If you seriously think that more unaccompanied tours and prohibiting single service members from getting married is an acceptable answer to budgetary problems then you really do have no clue. So many things the military can do to save money and you come up with this?

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But yes, your original analogy (jealous single guys/gals) holds no water. Maybe you yourself are jealous of people who have families on island, I don't know. But that's no reason to project your insecurities onto others ;)

I agree, there should be less of a burden on Okinawa, like I previously stated. However, removing all dependents and forbidding people from bringing their families is not the answer. Even if that did happen (it probably never will) then you'd be here on JT complaining about all the support facilities on base/post going to waste and how the GOJ wasted their money building them.

Do you know why the "old school" mentality of "no families" existed? No, it wasn't because of some absurd idea such as "you don't need/deserve a family" in the military. It is because there wasn't sufficient facilities on island to support said families. That's why there are "unaccompanied only" tours in the military. Either the area is dangerous or there aren't enough support facilities to support military members family, it's as simple as that. Okinawa has those facilities hence why military members are allowed to bring their families, pretty simple really.

Please show proof where having more dependants equals an increase in morale. All it does is add more complexity to the mission.. Single service members are required to clean barracks, muster and perform other activities related to mission after working hours, but married personel can quickly escape to base housing and assume a life as a civilian. The can "create" all sorts of excuses, like wife pregnancy etc to escape from physical training or field exercises. It creates an atmosphere of jealously and young servicemembers get married to escape barracks life and other duties. Most of these marriages end in divorce once the member seperates from the military. The single servicemember also quickly realizes that if they get married, they can get a number of benefits and pay increase. Other single service members of the same rank do not get even half of what the married person would, creating more immbalance. The married servicemember is seen as more mature, when in reality he/she has just manipulated the system in order to get more money and escape from duties. Then there is the issue of support for the dependant. Once a dependant arrives on island, they will want to work. There are limited opportunites for such people. Schools and stores must be provided as their kids cannot attend Japanese schools and the local food is not acceptable for them. Single servicemembers eat at mess halls, but dependants must have food flown in from the states. The logistics to support these people is enormous. As trueokinawain stated, if you joined the military just to get married or to bring your spouse along, you joined for the wrong reason.

You ask for proof but then make up the most inane example of "single service members getting jealous of married service members getting out of certain duties" and then your "most of them get divorced anyways" gem. You're really grasping at straws here. This is why I usually don't entertain the anti base types on this site. They talk a big game but at the end of the day they really have next to no clue about how the military or the people in it.

Sounds like complete BS, how could a light affect a chopper? If the chopper was 10 meters from the guy okay, but seriously this is complete crap

Yes, because shining a light into the eyes of someone piloting/driving a machine that is airborne, weighs thousands a pounds, and is filled with flammable fuel is no big deal right? Temporarily blinding the pilot of something that large shouldn't be a crime, I can shine my flashlight at whatever I want!

/sarcasm

I'm all for lessening the burden on Okinawa and I agree (forgot who mentioned it) that some of the bases should be moved and I agree with whomever mentioned moving some to Kyushu. However, removing the dependents of service members serving over seas is not the answer. Do you want a drop in moral and a spike in crime off base? Then by all means, go ahead and ship all dependents back to the US. I guess you'd have some new crimes off base to cry about instead of the old ones that happened all those years ago.

@atrueokinawan: If you have been on island for that long then you'd already know that removing dependents would be a bad idea. So yes, you are speaking about what you have seen, not what you know, two totally different perspectives.

Oh that's right, I remember why every article on JT has an anti military slant, look at the audience!

Thanks for reminding me toshiko, 5petals, and a"true"okinawan.

Why does just about any article about the US military in Japan on JT, no matter what the subject, always have to bring up past offenses or have some sort of anti-base spin/mention the anti-base crowd?

Dependents behaving badly

Kind of off topic but IMO the picture for this article is typical "Japan". In the foreground we have 3D printed guns, a somewhat new and on the rise technology. In the background we have your typical low tech card board cutout with writing glued to it like your typical day time television variety show.

All these pre-stories and after stories that came out for FF7 were just cash grab. Still say FF7 is the most over rated, lackluster story, shallow mellow dramatic characters that just wallow in their own depression the entire story and probably one of the most limp wristed main characters of any FF game.

How about a remake of FF6 or FF4? IMO those are the two best installments in the entire series along with Tactics.

Yeah, thin layer of plastic over the top. That will deter someone from using it!

Still have my brick gameboy and last time I checked it still worked!

I've been to a similar concert in the US, one with only Final Fantasy music. It was a nice time but why limit it to only FFVII? That was one of the most overrated entries in the entire series!

Number 2 depends entirely on where you're at in Japan. True some restaurants are going non smoking but the vast majority of izakayas and bars still allow smoking. Back home (Chicago) it's become hard to find a bar that allows smoking inside.

Number 3 always annoyed me simply because my wife insists on getting everyone gifts when we go places without realizing that the gesture is not returned when it comes to Americans.

Number 8 should read, you might be a weeabo if.......

Number 10, not strictly a Japanese thing. I'm not Japanese and I was raised that you don't wear shoes inside a home.

Most of them are a "meh" at best.

This just in, a flow of electrons produces heat!

Bertie said:

It seems there are some among us who do not wish to face facts:

You say facts but then you quote the most anti-base news outlet on the island? Again, hardly a very trusting "fact" source.

I stand corrected, it's 18% according to the wikipeida. However, who knows if those numbers are correct. Either way, not 20%.

As much as I'm against the "anti base/everything american is evil" crowd I can't help but agree with this guy. Okinawa did get the short stick when it comes to bearing the burden of the US military presence in Japan. Should some of the burden be lifted? Yes, but asking for all US military to leave Okinawa is unacceptable and unfortunately this move was agreed upon years ago. That being said, the Henoko move will happen, despite all the pleading and imaginary dugong.

Also, Bertie, I'd like to see some facts backing up your "20% of the land is base land" claims. Seen you make it on here before. IIRC, the number is closer to 13% and I believe I proved those numbers to you at one point.

While I don't care for winter anymore and prefer a warmer climate. I do miss the fun you can have in the snow.

This is what anime has boiled down to, it's sad really.

Cool but too bad no one watches the Simpsons anymore.

Vine, Youtube for kids with ADD.

Something else Japan can try to blame on those damned foreigners!

Concept is cool but I wonder if they'd lose too many to Aholes messing with the drones.

Oh no, not nudity!

Thank you Puritan value system! Where it's ok to show intense violence but something as natural as a naked body is a big no no.

Forgot Daiko taxi service.

Also, number 7 doesn't apply in Okinawa.