Press Briefing: November 6
Overview
The Ministry of Defense press secretary explained that U.S. forces in Okinawa continued the midnight curfew for some service members after the reflection period ended and introduced rules prohibiting all service members from drinking alcohol or purchasing alcohol outside their residences late at night. The measures were understood as a swift response demonstrating that the incident was being taken seriously, while the ministry refrained from specific comment for now on recurrence-prevention measures under discussion between Japan and the United States.
Key points
- There were no announcements, and questions were asked at the briefing about revisions to off-base movement restrictions.
- The Ministry of Defense understood the U.S. side's revisions as a swift response aimed at restoring discipline and preventing incidents.
- Japan and the United States were discussing effective measures to prevent recurrence, and specific details were not disclosed.
Overview
At the Ministry of Defense press secretary's briefing on November 6, 2026, a reporter asked how the ministry viewed the extension of off-base movement restrictions for U.S. forces in Okinawa following a robbery-murder by a U.S. service member, and what explanation the U.S. side had provided.
Impact
The press secretary said that incidents involving U.S. military personnel cause great anxiety among local residents and must never happen.
Details
According to the press secretary, the 30-day reflection period that began on October 9 ends on November 8. Under the new rules, the curfew from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. continues for service members in certain ranks, and all service members are prohibited from purchasing or consuming alcohol anywhere other than their primary residence after midnight.
The Ministry of Defense explained that Japan and the United States were continuing discussions among senior working-level officials to take effective measures to prevent incidents. It said details of the discussions would be shared at an appropriate time and refrained from specific comment for now.