US Navy In Japan Alcohol Ban After Car Crash

The move comes after an American sailor was arrested on June 5 for suspicion of drink-driving that caused an accident injuring two people on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa.

The US Navy ban also doesn’t allow sailors to leave base unless authorized to.

Japan’s national government announced plans Friday to send 100 additional police officers and 20 new patrol cars to Okinawa by early next year to deal with base-related crime.

U.S. service members on Okinawa are now observing modified liberty regulations for 30 days to “grieve collectively” over the woman’s death, according to U.S. Forces Japan. “Additionally, all off-base liberty will be curtailed”, according to a statement from the 7th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Japan.

The restrictions do not apply to family members and civilian United States contractors, which brings the total number of people to 35,000.

“We remain committed to our strong bilateral relationship and alliance with Japan“, the spokesman told ABC News.

On Saturday, Petty Officer 2nd Class Aimee Mejia, who is assigned to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, was arrested after allegedly driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road, hitting two cars and injuring two people.

The mourning period was declared after a US base worker, who is a former Marine, was arrested May 19 and charged with the brutal rape and murder of a 20-year-old Japanese woman.

The ban will not be lifted until face-to-face training is conducted by unit commanding officers to all personnel.

All US Navy sailors in Japan will be kept on base and banned from drinking until “all personnel understand the impact of responsible behaviour on the US-Japan alliance”, the statement said.

Mejia, 21, was unhurt but two other people – a 35-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man – were injured.

Kennedy extended an apology and expressed concern over the two victims of the incident and said the USA will cooperate with the investigation.

In 2008, then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, apologized to the Japanese for crimes committed by the usa military, including another alleged rape, this time of a 14-year-old girl.

While family members, civilian personnel and members of other services are not covered by the order, Navy officials are encouraging their participation, according to a report from Stars and Stripes.

In March, a sailor was arrested on charges of raping a Japanese woman.

Last month, President Barack Obama set aside economic issues on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan to discuss Shinzato’s arrest and express his regret to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who called on the U.S.to do more to prevent such incidents.

Okinawa hosts more than half the 47,000 American military personnel in Japan under a decades-long security alliance.