Two members of the US military have been accused of sexual assault in Japan, prompting Japanese authorities to speak out against what they called troubling behavior.
A US airman is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in December, while this month a Marine was accused of assaulting a woman and trying to sexually assault her.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who coordinates executive branch policy in Tokyo, said the cases were “deplorable.”
“This should [be] taken very seriously,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
The airman, 25-year-old Brennon Washington, was indicted in March on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl.
Washington allegedly invited her to a park on the island of Okinawa in December and then invited her to his car. Washington then allegedly took her to her home and sexually assaulted her, according to Japanese media.
Okinawa hosts about 70% of U.S. bases in Japan. Okinawa Vice Governor Takekuni Ikeda met Thursday with Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, and the local U.S. consul to ensure steps were being taken to prevent further action.
The Hill has reached out to the 18th Ward for comment.
In a separate incident also on Okinawa, Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 21, was indicted this month for allegedly choking a woman and trying to sexually assault her on May 26, Japanese media reported.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki told local reporters on Friday that he was “outraged” by the alleged crimes.
“A vile crime has come to light once again, causing great concern to the people of Okinawa,” he said, according to comments carried by several Japanese media outlets.
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