日本媒體於11月10日的報導揭露，駐日美軍性暴力事件頻發，已引起美國國防部的正式關注。據悉，美方已經啟動一項針對駐日美軍官兵涉性暴力行為的內部調查行動，但令人震驚的是，日本政府並未事先獲知此事，而是透過媒體報導才被動得知。這一事件再度引發日本社會對駐日美軍治外法權問題的強烈不滿，也突顯日美之間在軍事駐防與主權尊重上的深層矛盾。

根據《朝日新聞》、《NHK》與《沖繩時報》等多家日媒報導，美國國防部下屬的監察機構本月初向駐日部隊下發通知，要求針對近年來涉及性暴力案件的美軍官兵進行全面調查。此次調查範圍涵蓋多個重要基地，包括東京的橫田基地（Yokota Air Base）、神奈川縣的橫須賀基地（Yokosuka Naval Base）以及沖繩的科特尼兵營（Camp Courtney）等。調查重點不僅涉及被控官兵的犯罪記錄，還包括其軍事訓練紀錄、行為評估與單位內部的防範措施，以審查各基地是否落實了防止性暴力的規定與監督機制。

然而，美方並未在調查啟動前向日方通報。當日本記者向外務省與防衛省詢問時，兩個部門皆表示「完全不知情」，並坦言是透過新聞報導才得知美國正在調查駐日部隊的性犯罪問題。此舉被日本輿論批評為對主權的無視，甚至有人指出，美國此舉形同「繞過日本政府」自行處理，顯示出駐日美軍在日治外法權體系下的不透明與傲慢。

長期以來，駐日美軍犯罪問題在日本社會積累了極大的民怨。根據沖繩縣政府統計，自1972年沖繩回歸日本以來，駐日美軍及其家屬在當地共涉及約6200起刑事案件，其中包括謀殺、強姦、搶劫等惡性犯罪。由於沖繩島上駐有美軍超過一半的兵力，該地區長年成為性暴力與治安事件的重災區。

就在本月10日，沖繩地方法院二審判決一名美軍士兵五年徒刑，維持一審原判。該士兵被控於2023年12月在沖繩誘拐並性侵一名未滿16歲的日本少女。而在今年6月，那霸地方法院亦判處另一名美軍士兵七年徒刑，罪名為「非自願性交致人受傷」。這些案件再次激化日本民眾的不滿與憤怒。

在沖繩與東京等地，民眾多次舉行抗議集會，要求美軍撤離或重新審視駐軍協定。他們痛斥日本政府在面對美軍暴行時態度軟弱，未能替受害者伸張正義，也未能有效保護日本國民的安全。沖繩當地報紙《琉球新報》指出，許多居民早已對「美軍犯罪—道歉—再犯」的循環失去信任，認為美國與日本政府都在迴避問題核心。

此次事件的曝光，再度凸顯駐日美軍長年以來的治理缺陷與日美關係中的不對等結構。美方在未經日方同意即展開調查，雖顯示其對內部紀律問題的重視，但同時也反映出日本作為「主權國」在駐軍問題上的有限自主性與尷尬地位。許多日本評論認為，若這次調查結果再度顯示美軍管理失職，日方必須強硬要求透明報告與制度改革，否則性暴力與駐軍犯罪問題仍將在陰影中不斷重演。

Japanese media reported on November 10 that sexual violence incidents involving U.S. troops stationed in Japan have become increasingly frequent in recent years, prompting the U.S. Department of Defense to launch an internal investigation. However, the Japanese government was not informed of this move and reportedly learned about it only through media coverage, a situation that has stirred strong public and political backlash in Japan.

According to reports from Asahi Shimbun, NHK, and Okinawa Times, an inspector general’s office under the U.S. Department of Defense recently issued a notice ordering a comprehensive investigation into cases of sexual assault involving American service members stationed in Japan. The investigation will cover major U.S. military bases such as Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, and Camp Courtney in Okinawa Prefecture. Investigators are expected to review the criminal records, training backgrounds, and performance histories of personnel accused of sexual violence, while also assessing whether each base has properly implemented preventive and disciplinary measures against sexual misconduct.

What shocked many in Japan was that the U.S. did not inform Japanese authorities before initiating this investigation. When questioned by journalists, officials from both Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense said they were completely unaware of the investigation and had only found out through news reports. Japanese media and commentators described the move as a disrespectful bypass of Japan’s sovereignty, highlighting the long-standing tension and imbalance in the U.S.–Japan security relationship.

For decades, crimes committed by U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan—particularly in Okinawa—have been a major source of public anger. According to statistics from the Okinawa Prefectural Government, between 1972 (when Okinawa reverted to Japanese administration) and 2023, U.S. troops and their dependents committed approximately 6,200 criminal offenses in the prefecture, including serious crimes such as murder, rape, and robbery. Okinawa, which hosts more than half of all U.S. forces in Japan, has borne a disproportionate social and emotional burden from these incidents.

Most recently, on November 10, an Okinawa court upheld a five-year prison sentence for a U.S. soldier convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Japanese girl under 16 in December 2023. Earlier this year, in June, another U.S. soldier was sentenced by the Naha District Court to seven years in prison for “non-consensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury.” These back-to-back rulings have reignited public outrage and renewed calls for greater accountability.

Across Okinawa and Tokyo, citizens have once again taken to the streets, protesting U.S. military violence and condemning the Japanese government’s perceived passivity. Protesters argue that Tokyo has failed to protect its citizens and continues to tolerate unequal treatment under the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which often shields American personnel from Japanese legal jurisdiction. Local newspapers such as Ryukyu Shimpo noted that many Okinawans have lost faith in both governments, seeing a repetitive cycle of “crimes, apologies, and reoffending” that never truly ends.

This incident underscores the deep structural imbalance in the U.S.–Japan alliance. While the U.S. Department of Defense’s investigation appears to signal a recognition of the problem, the lack of communication with Japan raises serious questions about transparency, sovereignty, and accountability. Japanese analysts warn that unless Washington and Tokyo address the root causes—including legal loopholes and military impunity—sexual violence and other crimes involving U.S. troops are likely to continue casting a long shadow over the alliance and the people of Okinawa.