Brian McElhiney
@brianmcelhiney.bsky.social
Reporter for Stars and Stripes, covering the U.S. military on Okinawa, Japan. Shares are not endorsements.
Police have accused a U.S. Navy sailor on Okinawa of inappropriately touching a Japanese girl over the summer, adding to a string of offenses that have roiled the island community the past two years.
Okinawa police accuse US Navy sailor of inappropriately touching teenage girl
Police have accused a U.S. Navy sailor on Okinawa of inappropriately touching a Japanese girl over the summer.
www.stripes.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Police have accused a U.S. Navy sailor on Okinawa of inappropriately touching a Japanese girl over the summer, adding to a string of offenses that have roiled the island community the past two years.
A U.S. Marine in a Japanese court Tuesday denied sexually assaulting a Japanese woman on a Marine Corps base but admitted injuring another woman during the March incident.
Marine in court denies sexually assaulting woman in gym restroom on Okinawa base
A U.S. Marine in a Japanese court denied sexually assaulting a Japanese woman on a Marine Corps base but admitted injuring another woman.
www.stripes.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:41 AM
A U.S. Marine in a Japanese court Tuesday denied sexually assaulting a Japanese woman on a Marine Corps base but admitted injuring another woman during the March incident.
The Chinese coast guard entered waters Japan claims as its territorial limit around the Senkaku Islands over the weekend, less than 10 days after Japan’s prime minister warned Tokyo would use military force if China attacked Taiwan.
Chinese coast guard enters Senkaku waters after Japan warns it may use force
Four Chinese vessels crossed into waters Japan claims as its territorial limit around the Senkaku Islands.
www.stripes.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The Chinese coast guard entered waters Japan claims as its territorial limit around the Senkaku Islands over the weekend, less than 10 days after Japan’s prime minister warned Tokyo would use military force if China attacked Taiwan.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has rejected as “ineligible” a request from Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki to fund new filters designed to remove “forever chemicals” from a major water purification plant in central Okinawa.
Tokyo says no to Okinawa’s funding request for ‘forever chemical’ cleanup
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has rejected a request from Okinawa’s governor for new filters to remove PFAS from a water purification plant in Okinawa.
www.stripes.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has rejected as “ineligible” a request from Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki to fund new filters designed to remove “forever chemicals” from a major water purification plant in central Okinawa.
The Marine Corps could soon resolve a dispute with Okinawa prefecture over parachute jump training at Kadena Air Base by reopening an offshore airfield.
Airfield repairs could soon resolve Okinawa parachute jump training dispute
Repairs to an airfield in Okinawa could help resolve a parachute jump training dispute.
www.stripes.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:40 AM
The Marine Corps could soon resolve a dispute with Okinawa prefecture over parachute jump training at Kadena Air Base by reopening an offshore airfield.
U.S. military police arrested 15 service members during a recent patrol of the nightlife district in Okinawa city — the highest number of arrests on a single night since the patrols began in April, according to U.S. Forces Japan.
Okinawa city patrol yields record arrests as US military enforces liberty order
U.S. military police arrested 15 service members during a patrol of Okinawa city’s nightlife district — the highest number since the patrols began in April.
www.stripes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:37 AM
U.S. military police arrested 15 service members during a recent patrol of the nightlife district in Okinawa city — the highest number of arrests on a single night since the patrols began in April, according to U.S. Forces Japan.
Netflix is set to unveil another series about the Marine Corps, this time a four-part documentary about a rapid-response task force on Okinawa.
Netflix series on Marines’ quick-reaction force on Okinawa to debut on Corps’ birthday
Television series on Netflix will soon show the Marine Corps rapid-response task force on Okinawa.
www.stripes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Netflix is set to unveil another series about the Marine Corps, this time a four-part documentary about a rapid-response task force on Okinawa.
Only a dozen or so U.S. service members in civilian attire were spotted among the teeming revelers still celebrating Halloween on the streets of Naha’s nightlife district early Saturday.
First military police patrol of Okinawa’s capital finds ‘real quiet’ streets
Only a dozen or so U.S. service members in civilian attire were spotted among the revelers celebrating Halloween in Naha’s nightlife district.
www.stripes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Only a dozen or so U.S. service members in civilian attire were spotted among the teeming revelers still celebrating Halloween on the streets of Naha’s nightlife district early Saturday.
The Air Force on Monday identified Staff Sgt. Gregory Peterson as the airman who died last week from injuries sustained in a motorcycle collision two weeks earlier on Okinawa.
Airman who died after motorcycle collision served with mobility squadron on Okinawa
The U.S. Air Force identified the airman that died last week from injuries sustained in a motorcycle collision two weeks earlier.
www.stripes.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:57 AM
The Air Force on Monday identified Staff Sgt. Gregory Peterson as the airman who died last week from injuries sustained in a motorcycle collision two weeks earlier on Okinawa.
An airman stationed at Kadena Air Base has died from a brain injury suffered in a motorcycle crash two weeks ago on Okinawa, the Air Force and local police said.
Kadena airman dies weeks after motorcycle collision on Okinawa
Airman from Kadena, Okinawa, dies weeks after motorcycle collision
www.stripes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:05 AM
An airman stationed at Kadena Air Base has died from a brain injury suffered in a motorcycle crash two weeks ago on Okinawa, the Air Force and local police said.
The Marine Corps has relieved the command team of an MV-22 Osprey squadron based in Hawaii, citing a loss of trust and confidence in their ability to meet aviation standards, a service spokesman said.
Marine Corps fires Osprey squadron’s command team over ‘loss of trust’
Marine Corps command team of MV-22 Osprey squadron relieved of duty in Hawaii.
www.stripes.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The Marine Corps has relieved the command team of an MV-22 Osprey squadron based in Hawaii, citing a loss of trust and confidence in their ability to meet aviation standards, a service spokesman said.
An Okinawa town cannot immediately satisfy a request for additional water from a neighboring Marine Corps base that detected elevated levels of “forever chemicals” in its storage tank, according to a town official.
Okinawa town unable to meet US base water request amid PFAS contamination
Chatan town cannot immediately satisfy a request for additional water from Camp Lester, according to a town official.
www.stripes.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:44 AM
An Okinawa town cannot immediately satisfy a request for additional water from a neighboring Marine Corps base that detected elevated levels of “forever chemicals” in its storage tank, according to a town official.
A group of Marines newly arrived on Okinawa have been recognized for providing first aid to a Japanese bicyclist injured in a traffic collision in Nago city this summer.
‘Just another day on the job’: Marines honored for aiding injured cyclist on Okinawa
Five Marines that newly arrived at Okinawa were awarded commendations for assisting a Japanese man who had suffered a head injury after an accident.
www.stripes.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:23 AM
A group of Marines newly arrived on Okinawa have been recognized for providing first aid to a Japanese bicyclist injured in a traffic collision in Nago city this summer.
A U.S. airman was in a coma Monday after his motorcycle collided with a compact car at an Okinawa intersection early Friday, police said.
Motorcycle-car collision leaves American airman in coma on Okinawa
A U.S. airman suffered a brain hemorrhage and a broken pelvis in a crash that left him in a coma, police said.
www.stripes.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:31 AM
A U.S. airman was in a coma Monday after his motorcycle collided with a compact car at an Okinawa intersection early Friday, police said.
Japan’s military disposed of nearly 13 tons of unexploded ordnance on Okinawa between April 2024 and March — a little more than half the amount handled the previous fiscal year, according to government records.
Japan detonated 13 tons of WWII-era ordnance on Okinawa last fiscal year
Unexploded ordnance from the 1945 Battle of Okinawa continues to turn up across the island prefecture.
www.stripes.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Japan’s military disposed of nearly 13 tons of unexploded ordnance on Okinawa between April 2024 and March — a little more than half the amount handled the previous fiscal year, according to government records.
Naha Mayor Satoru Chinen told Marine Corps Installations Pacific commander Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford during a meeting at city hall that he is not considering patrols between U.S. military police and Japanese authorities, a city spokesman said.
Mayor rejects US military request to expand joint patrols into Okinawa’s capital
Naha Mayor, Satoru Chinen, has rejected plans by the U.S. military to expand joint police patrols into the Okinawa municipality.
www.stripes.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Naha Mayor Satoru Chinen told Marine Corps Installations Pacific commander Maj. Gen. Brian Wolford during a meeting at city hall that he is not considering patrols between U.S. military police and Japanese authorities, a city spokesman said.
The Marine Corps plans to fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, for the first time at a training range near Mount Fuji, according to U.S. Forces Japan.
Marines to fire HIMARS for first time at training area near Mount Fuji
The Marine Corps plans to fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System for the first time at a training range near Mount Fuji, according to USFJ.
www.stripes.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The Marine Corps plans to fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, for the first time at a training range near Mount Fuji, according to U.S. Forces Japan.
A fire last week scorched about 400,000 square feet at a Marine Corps rifle range in northern Okinawa, according to the prefectural government.
Ninth blaze of year burns at Marine Corps rifle range on Okinawa
A fire on Oct. 10 scorched about 400,000 square feet at a Marine Corps rifle range in northern Okinawa on Range 2 at Camp Hansen.
www.stripes.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
A fire last week scorched about 400,000 square feet at a Marine Corps rifle range in northern Okinawa, according to the prefectural government.
Some people living at the home of the 18th Wing sheltered in place for about an hour Tuesday after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.
Shelter-in-place lifted at Kadena after ordnance discovery near historic building
Some people living at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa sheltered in place for about an hour after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.
www.stripes.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Some people living at the home of the 18th Wing sheltered in place for about an hour Tuesday after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.
Chinese pilots made the fewest approaches toward Japanese airspace in more than a decade this spring and summer, even as Beijing increased its drone flights near Japan’s westernmost island, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.
Beijing scales back airspace challenges but boosts drone activity, Tokyo says
Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilots scrambled 265 times to meet foreign aircraft from April to September, down from 358 during the same period last year.
www.stripes.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Chinese pilots made the fewest approaches toward Japanese airspace in more than a decade this spring and summer, even as Beijing increased its drone flights near Japan’s westernmost island, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.
Reposted by Brian McElhiney
American troops join locals for Okinawa’s centuries-old tug-of-war festival
American troops join locals for Okinawa’s centuries-old tug-of-war festival
Hundreds of thousands of people, including U.S. service members, watched and took part in Naha’s annual Tug-of-War festival on Okinawa.
www.stripes.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:41 AM
American troops join locals for Okinawa’s centuries-old tug-of-war festival
The Okinawa Military Housing Office has delayed repair work on spalled concrete at housing towers on this Marine Corps base after discovering asbestos in some balconies, according to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base.
Asbestos found in cracking balconies at Okinawa Marine base; repairs pushed to late fall
The Okinawa Military Housing Office has delayed repair work on spalled concrete at housing towers after discovering asbestos in some balconies.
www.stripes.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
The Okinawa Military Housing Office has delayed repair work on spalled concrete at housing towers on this Marine Corps base after discovering asbestos in some balconies, according to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base.
U.S. service members in Japan were looking for low-interest loans and visiting food banks this week as an end to the 9-day-old federal government shutdown appeared nowhere in sight.
US service members in Japan making plans to weather lengthening government shutdown
U.S. service members in Japan were looking for low-interest loans and visiting food banks as an end to the 9-day-old federal government shutdown appeared nowhere in sight.
www.stripes.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
U.S. service members in Japan were looking for low-interest loans and visiting food banks this week as an end to the 9-day-old federal government shutdown appeared nowhere in sight.
One week into a federal government shutdown, service members, Defense Department civilian employees and their families in Japan and South Korea were taking stock, and asking how much longer.
Rent, groceries on minds of US military families in Asia Pacific as government shutdown continues
Americans with the U.S. military in the Pacific are concerned about how they will afford groceries and rent if the shutdown continues.
www.stripes.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:01 AM
One week into a federal government shutdown, service members, Defense Department civilian employees and their families in Japan and South Korea were taking stock, and asking how much longer.
A U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft made a precautionary landing at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base in central Japan last week, according to the service and Japanese officials.
Air Force Osprey makes precautionary landing at Japanese air base
A U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Yokota Air Base made a precautionary landing at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base.
www.stripes.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:33 AM
A U.S. Air Force tiltrotor aircraft made a precautionary landing at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base in central Japan last week, according to the service and Japanese officials.