Behavior rules for off-duty U.S. troops in Japan under review

Officials are reviewing the off-base code of conduct for U.S. troops in Japan following the killing of an Okinawan woman, allegedly by a U.S. Marine, according to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. The review comes after a series of crimes, including rapes, assaults, hit-and-runs, and drunk driving, by U.S. military personnel have triggered protests on the southern Japanese island.

The existing policy, updated in 2024 following a string of sexual assaults, includes a ban on U.S. military personnel drinking in public off-base between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. or going to bars during those hours. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that high-level consultations between Japan and the United States have been held to discuss effective measures to prevent future incidents.

The U.S. military has also enacted a two-day operational pause and a monthlong midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew since the Marine's arrest.

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