Jpn woman (20) missing in Okinawa; US military suspect

[Mike Oxlong]

FTFY

...because non-military Americans can't possibly be in Okinawa?

If the comment I posted is true and they had left, only to return...it's just as likely the anchor is the wife/wife's family.

The US military makes it possible, actually quite easy, for a certain type of American lowlife to experience living in Okinawa with a decent pay packet and COLA, and develop a taste for preferential treatment. He'd probably be doing much the same thing in whatever shithole USA he crawled out of, but he was given a chance to live in a much nicer place than that, and to live a lifestyle more comfortable than many of the locals he lived amongst, but he just couldn't change his stripes.

[Mike Oxlong]

Okinawa suspect allegedly admits to rape of woman before killing her

The civilian employee of a U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture who was arrested Thursday over the death of a Japanese woman has admitted raping her before strangling and stabbing her to death and transporting her body in a suitcase, investigative sources said Saturday.

Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, a 32-year-old former Marine employed by Kadena Air Base, was arrested on suspicion of dumping the woman’s body, a procedural step common in suspected murder cases.

The victim was identified as Rina Shimabukuro, a 20-year-old office worker from the city of Uruma.

She had gone missing on April 28, when she went out for a walk.

Media reports have quoted investigators as saying blood stains were found in the car of Shinzato, who lived in the town of Yonabaru with his wife and child. Footage of the suspect buying salt at a convenience store soon after the victim’s disappearance and sprinkling it over his car was captured by the store’s surveillance camera, the Asahi Shimbun reported, citing investigative sources.

On Saturday, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani lodged a protest with the commander of U.S. military forces in Okinawa over Shinzato’s arrest.

The incident in Okinawa, where strong opposition remains to the heavy presence of U.S. military bases there, came ahead of a trip to Japan by President Barack Obama next week to attend the Group of Seven summit and visit to Hiroshima.

Informed sources also said Friday Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will directly ask U.S. President Barack Obama to strengthen discipline among U.S. servicemen and workers at U.S. bases in their upcoming talks.

Abe will also ask Obama to take thorough measures to prevent any recurrence of such incidents, the sources said.

In Saturday’s meeting with Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, Nakatani demanded that the U.S. military in Okinawa enhance discipline and take measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

“This is outrageous and unforgivable,” Nakatani said during the meeting at a Defense Ministry office in Okinawa. Nicholson said, “Our heartfelt prayers and condolences are offered to the family.”

Nakatani lodged a similar protest when he summoned Lt. Gen. John Dolan, commander of U.S. forces in Japan, to Tokyo on Thursday. Both he and Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga attended Shimabukuro’s funeral on Saturday.

Efforts by government officials to control damage to U.S.-Japan relations ahead of Obama’s visit to Japan did not stop angry residents from protesting in front of Kadena Air Base on Friday.

About 250 people attended an anti-base rally, shouting slogans such as “Get out of Okinawa” and “We don’t accept U.S. bases.”

“Many people in the prefecture were worried and wished that she would come home safely,” said Shusei Arakawa, 79, one of the organizers.

Shinzato, 32, told police he throttled and stabbed the woman as well sexually assaulted her, the sources said.

Police found Shimabukuro’s body on Thursday based on a statement Shinzato made the same day. An autopsy performed Friday failed to find the cause of the death because the body had been reduced to a near skeleton.

The woman disappeared after contacting her boyfriend via the free messaging app Line at around 8 p.m. on April 28, saying she was going for a walk.

Before arresting Shinzato, the police had been questioning him on a voluntary basis since Monday after they identified his car in security camera footage in the area from where GPS data from the woman’s smartphone was last sent.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/0 ... n-killing/

[Takechanpoo]

some j-media even interviewed the suspects mother.

7d558_1110_20160521-112801-1-0001.jpg

[kurogane]

Anyways, back to Koroshi Kennef...............

Matsuki,
If the bases weren't there he would never have been either. It's still basically a base incident...at the base of it, given how base his actions were.

That seems to be the basic assumption here but allow me to assume something based on that comment I posted....his wife is Japanese and they moved back to Okinawa to live with her family. A decision not necessarily based on the base's existence.

You're quibbling. He was military, and then he was military again. And then he took his wife's name. And then he raped and killed a girl. Choose your battles man. This is like arguing that Gregory Gumo only bought tape, rope and tarps because he had originally planned to go cherry blossom viewing.

The real message I am getting from these articles is that free messaging apps like Line lead to violent death. Hopefully this will serve as a timely warning. Phone people when you need to talk. It's safer.

[Takechanpoo]

why the fuck did you edit those racial slurs? eh? you fucking faker.

[matsuki]

FTFY

...because non-military Americans can't possibly be in Okinawa?

If the comment I posted is true and they had left, only to return...it's just as likely the anchor is the wife/wife's family.

The US military makes it possible, actually quite easy, for a certain type of American lowlife to experience living in Okinawa with a decent pay packet and COLA, and develop a taste for preferential treatment. He'd probably be doing much the same thing in whatever shithole USA he crawled out of, but he was given a chance to live in a much nicer place than that, and to live a lifestyle more comfortable than many of the locals he lived amongst, but he just couldn't change his stripes.

I'm not saying this piece of shit wasn't taking advantage of the base being there...only that even if the base no longer existed, he had the wife and family in Oki to get his foot in and stay.

An autopsy performed Friday failed to find the cause of the death because the body had been reduced to a near skeleton.

Holy fuck...what did he do, dump her body in acid??

[wuchan]

So much doesn't add up here. A former marine that lives in Oki with a base job can't properly dispose of his waste? I can accept a noob that has been forward deployed making a mistake but a guy that left service and was allowed to remain? OK he married a local but when did they stop checking?

[TennoChinko]

An autopsy performed Friday failed to find the cause of the death because the body had been reduced to a near skeleton.

Holy fuck...what did he do, dump her body in acid??

The temperatures in Okinawa seem to be have been at around 25 degrees Celsius: http://www.jma.go.jp/en/week/353.html ; the rate of chemical decomposition of a human body roughly doubles with every 10 degree Celsius rise in ambient temperature, so in average conditions that would mean a body reaching an advanced stage of decomposition in around two weeks versus say, 11-12 weeks if at 5 degrees Celsius.

Factor in above average humidity (certainly, it wouldn't be dry like Arizona where bodies can mummify) and numerous scavengers, it's not hard to figure out how and why a body left out there for four weeks might be reduced to a skeletal state. A single fly can produce over 250 maggots within 24 hours and maggots can consume more than 50-60% of a human body in about a week.

[Mike Oxlong]

I'm not saying this piece of shit wasn't taking advantage of the base being there...only that even if the base no longer existed, he had the wife and family in Oki to get his foot in and stay.

An autopsy performed Friday failed to find the cause of the death because the body had been reduced to a near skeleton.

Holy fuck...what did he do, dump her body in acid??

You are not saying much that makes sense. He's the sort that really would have a very hard time getting to Japan any other way than the US military. When I lived on the mainland the eikaiwa biz did not hire his sort, and in fact actively discriminated against. His wife didn't go to the US to learn English and catch a foreign hubby, she shacked up with a marine here, then followed him home, only to get homesick and bring the scum back. He was only able to make it here this second tour by reentering the system that brought him here in the first place.

As for decomposition, what TC said. We have had plenty of days get close to 30 this month, and it only cools off a few degrees at most at night. Along with very high humidity year round this place is bug heaven, mould heaven, swamp and mangrove and snakes and vermin.

Oh, and a while back you didn't get why someone might go through a haken gaisha to get a base job. The ex-mil, military dependents get dibs on all the jobs regardless of qualifications. They are usually direct hire and have no need for employment agencies. However, there are Americans with no connection to the military and limited experience that would like some of those jobs for themselves, and typically need to use an employment agency to have a snowball's chance in hell. The locals didn't get the fine distinction Lt. Gen. John Dolan made about Kenef not being employed directly by the military and thus disavowing any responsibility, and wrongly assumed he must have been working for one of those agencies.

[matsuki]

Mike - Do you personally know the guy or is this info public? I realize it's a story that's all too common and this fucker is obviously pond scum that would have done us all a good one by offing himself properly but those are a bunch of specifics that I haven't yet read anywhere. Anyhow, sad story regardless of how he got there.

About the body...decomposition I figured....but that fast...wow.

[Mike Oxlong]

I have no idea what you are on about.

[matsuki]

Never mind, the shitbag is not worth really discussing any further.

[TennoChinko]

...

Oh, and a while back you didn't get why someone might go through a haken gaisha to get a base job. The ex-mil, military dependents get dibs on all the jobs regardless of qualifications. They are usually direct hire and have no need for employment agencies. However, there are Americans with no connection to the military and limited experience that would like some of those jobs for themselves, and typically need to use an employment agency to have a snowball's chance in hell. The locals didn't get the fine distinction Lt. Gen. John Dolan made about Kenef not being employed directly by the military and thus disavowing any responsibility, and wrongly assumed he must have been working for one of those agencies.

Just to add to that ... an archived article in Stripes on post-separation career opportunities in Japan for US military:

Retiring in Japan possible with planning
Advice from those who’ve recently made the transition
http://archive.is/7eWVX

And in the case of Kenneth Gadson/Shinzato, he was able to retain his SOFA-status as evidenced by his "Y-plates" on his vehicle where they found both blood & DNA evidence from the victim. I'm not 100% certain whether it's a privilege for SOFA-holders (and FSOs at the CG) only, but certainly other perks like being able to purchase from the base commissaries are significant.

I have no idea how it actually works with the actual granting of SOFA-status to civilian contractors [ example of SOFA agreement here: http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/usa/sf ... lltext.pdf ]

ARTICLE I

"civilian component" means the civilian persons of United States nationality who are in the employ of, serving with, or accompanying the United States armed forces in Japan, but excludes persons who areordinarily resident in Japan or who are mentioned in paragraph 1 of Article XIV. For the purposes of this Agreement only, dual nationals, Japanese and United States, who are brought to Japan by the United States shall be considered as United States nationals

ARTICLE IX
1. The United States may bring into Japan persons who are members of the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents, subject to the provisions of this Article.
2 . Members of the United States armed forces shall be exempt from Japanese passport and visa laws and regulations. Members of the United States armed forces, the civilian component, and their dependents shall be exempt from Japanese laws and regulations on the registration and control of aliens, but shall not be considered as acquiring any right to permanent residence or domicile in the territories of Japan

...but if Dolan wants to suggest that someone there is some kind of "lesser responsiblity" due to Gadson/Shinzato's 'civilian component' status under the SOFA, he's wrong. There are a significant number of non-active duty civilian employees and contractors working for United States Forces Japan under SOFA, and if Dolan wants to imply that he and/or USFJ are somehow bear less responsibility than if the accused were active duty, Japan should or could use this opportunity to file for a revision or repeal of SOFA status for such civilians (which would undeniably be a real shit move affecting a lot of decent folks).

[TennoChinko]

Mike - Do you personally know the guy or is this info public? I realize it's a story that's all too common and this fucker is obviously pond scum that would have done us all a good one by offing himself properly but those are a bunch of specifics that I haven't yet read anywhere. Anyhow, sad story regardless of how he got there.

About the body...decomposition I figured....but that fast...wow.

I don't think it's too hard to find details about the case... (not exactly certain which details you were referring to as not having read anywhere...)

Former U.S. Marine arrested in Okinawa over murder case
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/fo ... story.html
http://archive.is/qZFoU

Okinawa police have arrested Kenneth Shinzato, a 32-year-old former U.S. Marine who was working as a computer and electrical contractor on the Kadena Air Base, in relation to the slaying of 20-year-old Rina ­Shimabukuro.

Shinzato, a civilian employee born Kenneth Franklin Gadson but who took his wife’s name when they got married, reportedly told police he dumped Shimabukuro’s body in a wooded area after she stopped moving. Shinzato has been charged with abandoning a body.

Multiple news reports say that Shinzato, who lives near the base with his wife and baby, tried to commit suicide by taking large quantities of sleeping pills earlier this week.

Although Shinzato is no longer a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, he was employed as a contractor and was included in the Status of Forces Agreement that protects Americans working for the military in Japan.

The agreement stipulates that Japan cannot prosecute people affiliated with the United States for crimes committed during the course of their work. But even though this alleged murder would not be classified as occurring while Shinzato was on duty, it is already raising questions about why a person who has a civilian job would enjoy the protections of the deal in the first place*.

* As I indicated in my earlier post, this incident could spark demands by the Japanese-side for a stricter definition of how civilians get qualified for SOFA status.

Pentagon chief apologizes over death of Okinawa woman
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/0 ... awa-woman/
http://archive.is/x6hJW

Shinzato indicated during questioning that he drove around for a few hours looking for a woman to rape, the sources said. His confession and other evidence suggest he attacked the victim near her apartment, they said.

Shinzato said he strangled and stabbed the woman before putting her body in a suitcase and transporting it in his car, according to the sources.

And, according to his mother:

In New York on Friday, the suspect’s mother, 63-year-old Shirley Gadson, expressed disbelief over her son’s alleged involvement in the death. Speaking to reporters at her apartment, she said she cannot believe her son would commit such a crime.

According to Gadson and an acquaintance interviewed along with her, Shinzato was born in New York, and she raised him as a single mother. He was shy and started avoiding school when he was 11 after being bullied, they said. The acquaintance said Shinzato had never caused trouble to others or been known to be combative.

Calling him “Kenny,” Gadson said she loves her son and wants to go to Japan but cannot.

Separately, she told The Washington Post by telephone that her son served in the U.S. Marine Corps between 2007 and 2014, the newspaper reported on its website Friday.

Okinawa police: U.S. civilian admits to raping woman before killing her
http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2016/05/22 ... lling-her/

Kenneth Shinzato, 32, told police that he sexually assaulted Rina Shimabukuro before stabbing and strangling her to death.

Police sources told the paper that Shinzato said he “raped her,” “clubbed her with a stick and carried her inside the car” and “stabbed her with a knife.”

Shinzato is married with three children. Shinzato uses the family name of his wife. His family name is Gadson.

[Mike Oxlong]

Some more of that inside info I have been seeing on the tv and the Net...

Okinawa suspect married to local woman; couple have infant

Described by neighbors as shy but not "scary," the suspect in the case involving the abandonment of a young woman's body is married to a Japanese woman and the couple have an infant.

According to his lawyer, Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 32, is originally from New York. He joined the U.S. Marines and was deployed to Okinawa, where he met and married a Japanese woman.

To continue living in Japan, Shinzato left the Marines two years ago and has been working as a civilian at Kadena Air Base, mainly with duties related to the Internet.

He lives in a single-family home in Yonabaru, about 20 kilometers south of Kadena.

According to a 52-year-old neighbor, Shinzato began living at the home in late April. He, his wife and baby paid their respects to the man soon after they moved in.

"Although he was large, he did not give the impression of being a scary type of person," the man said.

Another 21-year-old neighbor said, "When our eyes met on the street, he would look away immediately so I felt he was a shy person."

Before living in Yonabaru, Shinzato lived in an apartment in Okinawa city.

A 36-year-old woman who lived in the same apartment complex said, "He would smile and greet my child when they met outside. He seemed like a kind person."

A few days before Shinzato was arrested on May 19 on suspicion of abandoning the body of a 20-year-old woman, a man living nearby saw police vehicles near Shinzato's residence.

On May 18, when reports surfaced that Okinawa prefectural police had asked someone connected with the U.S. military to submit his vehicle for analysis, the man realized that Shinzato's car was gone, but he did not think that he was involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported in its May 20 edition that Shinzato's mother, who lives in New York, told the paper, "He didn't do nothing like that. Maybe somebody set him up."

She told the paper that she had not heard from her son in about two years. She also said he dropped out of school and had a hard life before he joined the Marines.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201605220026.html

Lt. Gen John Dolan is the commander of USFJ and stationed at Yokota AB, and I have only seen his comments on the tv and Yahoo!ニュースJapan.
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/D ... dolan.aspx

[inflames]

Oh, and a while back you didn't get why someone might go through a haken gaisha to get a base job. The ex-mil, military dependents get dibs on all the jobs regardless of qualifications. They are usually direct hire and have no need for employment agencies. However, there are Americans with no connection to the military and limited experience that would like some of those jobs for themselves, and typically need to use an employment agency to have a snowball's chance in hell. The locals didn't get the fine distinction Lt. Gen. John Dolan made about Kenef not being employed directly by the military and thus disavowing any responsibility, and wrongly assumed he must have been working for one of those agencies.

I really hate this. Most on-base jobs are actually reserved for ex-mil and dependents (as in you automatically aren't considered if you aren't ex-mil or a dependent). If you aren't one of them, your odds of an on-base job are almost zero (unless you go through a haken making $15 an hour) - reasonable contractor jobs want you to be ex-military (with a security clearance).

[matsuki]

I was referring to the personal details and decisions Mike was posting which had some "flavor" that I hadn't seen in any of the reporting. Fair enough assumptions and I realize the dude has SOFA status and that puts him under the whole "bases/military" blanket but I just don't think it's so cut and dry to say he wouldn't have returned and committed this act if the bases were no longer there today....though I also realize that's what brought him there in the first place. Dude is obviously mentally unstable but the argument about better vetting who joins the military is hard to make when this appears to be the first time he committed a crime.

To add to that, he hasn't enjoyed any of the possible SOFA related benefits that are being discussed in regards to his arrest. He's been treated just like the local civilians that work on base, not active military. So you've got a civilian dude's rape/murder on his free time...why do they want to make that distinction? (even if it won't be well received) Isn't it pretty SOP when someone like former [insert Japan Inc. company here] employee commits some major crime? That being said, it's the military...it's like if a minor commits something like this, of course the parents are going to be blamed and held responsible in some manor (morally and/or legally) as they are responsible for the child. If an adult commits something like this, the blame rests with the adult who made the decision to commit the crime, not the the parents...even if they're terrible/abusive. (and it's not like the bases are running seminars, encouraging rape/murder)

Oh, and a while back you didn't get why someone might go through a haken gaisha to get a base job. The ex-mil, military dependents get dibs on all the jobs regardless of qualifications. They are usually direct hire and have no need for employment agencies. However, there are Americans with no connection to the military and limited experience that would like some of those jobs for themselves, and typically need to use an employment agency to have a snowball's chance in hell. The locals didn't get the fine distinction Lt. Gen. John Dolan made about Kenef not being employed directly by the military and thus disavowing any responsibility, and wrongly assumed he must have been working for one of those agencies.

I really hate this. Most on-base jobs are actually reserved for ex-mil and dependents (as in you automatically aren't considered if you aren't ex-mil or a dependent). If you aren't one of them, your odds of an on-base job are almost zero (unless you go through a haken making $15 an hour) - reasonable contractor jobs want you to be ex-military (with a security clearance).

Ehhhh, having applied for and been offered a position (without going through a Haken) I beg to differ. (no military experience or security clearance though I would have been expected to obtain the necessary clearance)

[Mike Oxlong]

I was referring to the personal details and decisions Mike was posting which had some "flavor" that I hadn't seen in any of the reporting. Fair enough assumptions and I realize the dude has SOFA status and that puts him under the whole "bases/military" blanket but I just don't think it's so cut and dry to say he wouldn't have returned and committed this act if the bases were no longer there today....though I also realize that's what brought him there in the first place. Dude is obviously mentally unstable but the argument about better vetting who joins the military is hard to make when this appears to be the first time he committed a crime.

The only person saying he returned is you. The last news report I saw stated he was stationed here, then quit the military so he could stay. Do you have some inside info that is not the case? Or, was that an assumption you made?

Ehhhh, having applied for and been offered a position (without going through a Haken) I beg to differ. (no military experience or security clearance though I would have been expected to obtain the necessary clearance)

n=1 experience don't make a rule, sonny jim.

[inflames]

Ehhhh, having applied for and been offered a position (without going through a Haken) I beg to differ. (no military experience or security clearance though I would have been expected to obtain the necessary clearance)

One question - why didn't you accept it? You have to take SOFA Status (which means no kokumin kenko hoken and all sorts of issues with no residence card/juminhyo) but honestly I'd rather pay US taxes and Social Security for a job with a future than being stuck doing whatever you can get in Japan itself.

SOFA depends on the company he is working for. Some jobs give you SOFA and others don't. The crazy guy that shot up Washington Navy Yard a few years was in Japan on SOFA as a contractor but people working at restaurants on base (for example) aren't.

[matsuki]

I was referring to the personal details and decisions Mike was posting which had some "flavor" that I hadn't seen in any of the reporting. Fair enough assumptions and I realize the dude has SOFA status and that puts him under the whole "bases/military" blanket but I just don't think it's so cut and dry to say he wouldn't have returned and committed this act if the bases were no longer there today....though I also realize that's what brought him there in the first place. Dude is obviously mentally unstable but the argument about better vetting who joins the military is hard to make when this appears to be the first time he committed a crime.

The only person saying he returned is you. The last news report I saw stated he was stationed here, then quit the military so he could stay. Do you have some inside info that is not the case? Or, was that an assumption you made?

Was in a comment on the JT article I posted above but if he quit the military to stay, it makes even less of an argument that the base is what kept him there.

Ehhhh, having applied for and been offered a position (without going through a Haken) I beg to differ. (no military experience or security clearance though I would have been expected to obtain the necessary clearance)

n=1 experience don't make a rule, sonny jim.[/quote]

Not a rule but neither is having almost zero chance....other than speaking the local language, I didn't have any exceptional credentials for the position.

One question - why didn't you accept it? You have to take SOFA Status (which means no kokumin kenko hoken and all sorts of issues with no residence card/juminhyo) but honestly I'd rather pay US taxes and Social Security for a job with a future than being stuck doing whatever you can get in Japan itself.

SOFA depends on the company he is working for. Some jobs give you SOFA and others don't. The crazy guy that shot up Washington Navy Yard a few years was in Japan on SOFA as a contractor but people working at restaurants on base (for example) aren't.

Talked about it with the place I'm working with now and they basically gave in and let me come into the office only when needed. (basically part-time hours here for the same pay) SOFA and base access would have been nice but no way I'd have the flexibility I enjoy now.

[Mike Oxlong]

Was in a comment on the JT article I posted above but if he quit the military to stay, it makes even less of an argument that the base is what kept him there.

Wow, I thought the local rumor mill was an iffy place to get info, but your place trumps that.

Military brought him, base work was the way to stay as a resident. Tough for his sort to just quit the military and suddenly find a job where a J-company are willing to sponsor a visa with permission to work in Japan. From the news reports, he had an apartment off-base for a time while a civilian contractor, and then moved in with the wife, so she appears to have entered his life some time after he set up shop here as a civilian working for the military. Stayed for the local koku-jo, not for his later-to-be wife specifically.

[matsuki]

Yes, that's why I kept posting "if the comment can be believed."

...but if he's currently married, with haaafu kids, getting a spousal visa would be an easy option. No doubt he was enjoying the benefits of the base and it makes things easier...but my point is, taking the base away wouldn't not have prevented him from being there or committing the crime.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Mike, Matsuki,

Serious question: What point are you guys trying to make?

[wagyl]

I think someone is trying to say that if the Japanese had not lost WWII in the Pacific, then no one would have died unfortunately in Okinawa, ever.

This thread needs more Shimabukuro love.

[matsuki]

Mike, Matsuki,

Serious question: What point are you guys trying to make?

The dude is a civilian/adult solely responsible for this murder, placing blame on the military/base is a reach.

[TennoChinko]

Mike, Matsuki,

Serious question: What point are you guys trying to make?

The dude is a civilian/adult solely responsible for this murder, placing blame on the military/base is a reach.

I think it'd help to take a brief look at the US - Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA):

wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.%E2%8 ... _Agreement

full text http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/usa/sf ... lltext.pdf

And, just take a look at Article I:

ARTICLE I

In this Agreement the expression-

"members of the United States armed forces" means the personnel on active duty belonging to the land, sea or air armed services of the United States of America when in the Territory of Japan.

"civilian component" means the civilian persons of United States nationality who are in the employ of, serving with, or accompanying the United States armed forces in Japan, but excludes persons who are ordinarily resident in Japan or who are mentioned in paragraph 1 of Article XIV. For the purposes of this Agreement only, dual nationals, Japanese and United States, who are brought to Japan by the United States shall be considered as United States nationals.

"dependents" means
(1) Spouse, and children under 21;

(2) Parents, and children over 21, if dependent for over half their support upon a member of the United States armed forces or civilian component.

I think it should be clear that one does not need to be active duty military to be eligible for SOFA-status (re: "civilian component") and if you follow through with the rest of the agreement, see how that "civilian component" falls under the purvey/responsibility of the 'United States armed forces in Japan' as indicated in the agreement. Another example of non active duty military would be dependents of either a member of the United States armed forces or civilian component ... this 2009 case involving 4 teenaged dependents for example: http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/12/29/ch ... ary-brats/

Basically, anyone covered under SOFA - civilian , active duty or dependent - should be the responsibility of US Forces Japan. Of course, if they suddenly somehow get rid of the "civilian component", your argument that blaming the military is "a reach" might start to make sense.

[Takechanpoo]

its wholeheartedly disgusting that some of the local politicians and the executives of the local medias, whose balls already were grabbed by chinese government, are using the death of the innocent girl as a political tool. they are not the reflection of the majority of okinawa ppl.

20150515180344.jpg

this photo is not photoshopped at all.

[dimwit]

Well it is. But it doesn't change the fact that he possesses an Ogurian worthy hairpiece.

[matsuki]

Tenno, totally agree with what your saying except this whole thing started because...

"civilian component" means the civilian persons of United States nationality who are in the employ of, serving with, or accompanying the United States armed forces in Japan, but excludes persons who are ordinarily resident in Japan

The dude already had/has residency (spousal visa) which is why I was saying the dude would have been here with or without the base.

[Mike Oxlong]

Where are you reading that Choko? I have seen nothing other than military posting followed by contractor with SOFA.