A Japanese court has sentenced a 22-year-old US Marine to seven years in prison after convicting him of sexually assaulting a woman in Okinawa last year, reigniting long-standing tensions over the American military presence on the island.
Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton was found guilty by the Naha District Court of attacking a woman in her 20s, choking her from behind and attempting to engage in sexual intercourse. The court ruled that the assault caused physical and psychological harm, with the woman sustaining injuries to her eyes that required two weeks to heal.
According to Kyodo News, the court deemed the victim’s testimony to have “a high-level of credibility throughout” the proceedings. During sentencing, Judge Kazuhiko Obata described the assault as “vicious”, citing evidence that Clayton had choked the woman for one to two minutes, as reported by Stars and Stripes, a news outlet that covers US military affairs.
Prosecutors had sought a 10-year sentence for Clayton, who denied all charges. His defence had attempted to discredit the woman’s account, highlighting her level of intoxication and inconsistencies in her statements during trial hearings earlier in June. However, the court dismissed these claims and found him guilty of attempted rape and assault.
The case adds to a troubling pattern of violent crimes involving American military personnel stationed in Okinawa, a strategic archipelago that hosts more than half of the 54,000 US troops based in Japan. The concentration of forces has long fueled resentment among locals, especially in light of repeated incidents of sexual violence.
In the past year alone, there have been four reported cases of sexual assault involving US service members in Okinawa. One of the most notable involved Brennon Washington, a member of the US Air Force, who was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2024 for the rape and kidnapping of a minor.
The legacy of such crimes runs deep. One of the largest protests in Okinawan history took place nearly 30 years ago after the brutal gang rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen, sparking widespread outrage and demands for the removal of American forces.
While crimes by military personnel remain a major flashpoint, local opposition to the US presence extends beyond criminal incidents. Residents frequently complain of excessive aircraft noise, environmental pollution, and safety concerns related to military operations in densely populated areas.
There have been repeated efforts to relocate the bases to less inhabited regions within Okinawa, yet many residents insist that the facilities should be removed altogether. Despite local opposition, Japanese and US officials have so far maintained the status quo.
Security analysts argue that Japan is unlikely to sever or substantially alter its military alliance with the United States. With growing regional threats from North Korea’s ballistic missile program and China’s increasing assertiveness over contested maritime territories, Tokyo continues to rely heavily on American military support.
For now, the sentencing of Lance Corporal Clayton adds another layer to the complex and often strained relationship between Okinawan civilians and the US military presence—a dynamic marked by deep-seated grievances, geopolitical realities, and calls for greater accountability.
