Japan and US review off-duty rules for troops after Okinawa killing

Japan and the United States are reviewing rules for American troops’ activities outside their bases following the killing of a woman in Okinawa, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Oct. 13.

The consultations will examine whether existing rules work effectively, including patrols and management of curfews. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said high-level and working-level talks began last week.

The review follows the arrest of a US Marine suspected of killing a 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha. The allegation remains under investigation.

The US military imposed a two-day operational pause to reinforce discipline after the arrest, followed by a monthlong restriction on going out between midnight and 5am.

Existing rules updated in 2024 prohibit public off-base drinking and visits to bars between 1am and 5am. Those standing rules and the more recent midnight curfew are separate measures.

Motegi discussed the case with Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the weekend. Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the two countries agreed to consult on effective prevention measures. The current review does not itself establish a new permanent code.