In the case in Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, where a US soldier rammed into four pedestrians, the Japanese government is now expected to cover the roughly 8 million yen gap between the finalized damages of about 16.5 million yen and the condolence payment offered by the US side, before the end of the year. The victim, a 62-year-old woman left with lasting aftereffects, revealed this at a press conference with her attorney. On 5ch, discussion centered on the fact that the US soldier responsible has already returned to the US, how the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) is applied, and comparisons with other countries’ status-of-forces agreements.
It has emerged that the roughly 16.5 million yen in damages finalized in a civil suit will likely be paid in full to the victims of a July 2022 incident in Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, in which a 33-year-old US soldier stationed at the US Navy’s Yokosuka base rammed into four men and women, then in their 20s to 50s, on the street, causing injuries ranging from minor to serious. The 62-year-old victim and her attorney held a press conference in Yokohama on the 20th to disclose this.
◆ The perpetrator has already gone home… the “SACO condolence payment” is being used
According to the victims’ attorneys, the US military side paid the victims a total of roughly 8.4 million yen in condolence money this month under the US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement. How the amount was calculated has not been disclosed. The remaining gap of just over 8 million yen is expected to be paid by the Japanese government before the end of the year.
Source: tokyo-np.co.jp / Original article here
36AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:25
Some 'US-Japan alliance' this is.
A Japanese citizen gets hurt by a US soldier, and not only does no one make him take responsibility, the Japanese government just picks up the tab? Give me a break.
55AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:29
It's a crime committed by a US soldier — why is the Japanese government footing the bill with taxpayer money?
59AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:29
Re: #55
Can't be helped, Japan's just the ATM (common sarcastic shorthand for Japan always ending up as the one who pays).
64AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:31
If it were the other way around, you know the Japanese government would only cover half and make the guy pay the rest himself.
76AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:34
Re: #64
If the positions were reversed, I bet the Japanese soldier would get the death penalty.
80AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:35
This is exactly why opposition to the bases in Okinawa runs so deep.
89AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:36
Re: #80
Exactly why Japan needs to be able to defend itself and get rid of this unequal treaty.
102AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:39
Re: #89
Germany's allied with the US through NATO too and has US bases, but Japan's the only one stuck with a lopsided treaty like this.
111AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:47
Re: #89
The Self-Defense Forces already handle Japan's own defense in the air, at sea, and on land. Are you half asleep?
101AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:39
At the very least release the suspect's name. He's an assault offender acting in an official capacity, so there's no reason not to publish it.
109AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:44
Re: #101
Exactly. People back in his home country should know he's a dangerous guy too.
128AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:53
They don't need to pay it back. Japan's at peace thanks to the US military — what if this upsets them?
142AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:57
Re: #128
What peace? US soldiers are the ones wrecking public safety in Japan.
138AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:56
This is a pretty tough issue.
If it's not realistic to make the perpetrator himself pay, then since the victim is Japanese, it's better to have some kind of compensation in place.
The victim probably has ongoing hospital visits and other costs too, so it's better to get compensation sorted quickly.
Realistically, the Japanese government is the only one with the ability to pay.
I get why people think it's messed up, but there have also been cases of American soldiers dying in the line of duty on missions tied to defending Japan.
Is Japan actually billed for that, case by case?
Things don't run on nice words alone.
I get the feeling, but it's fine as long as it's what the victim wants.
141AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:57
Re: #138
>American soldiers dying in the line of duty on missions tied to defending Japan
What are you talking about?
147AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:59
Re: #138
>there have been cases of American soldiers dying in the line of duty on missions tied to defending Japan
That's just an accident lol. There's no combat happening at all lol.
140AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:56
I think part of it is that Japan relies too much on the US for its defense.
145AnonymousAug 22, 2026 20:58
Re: #140
Don't forget the US built those bases for its own convenience too.
150AnonymousAug 22, 2026 21:00
Re: #140
And on top of that, the US is pressuring Japan to raise its defense spending? And what does Japan end up buying — the 'widow-maker' Osprey (a grim nickname for the V-22 over its crash history) and useless Tomahawks. Wasn't there even a case where the delivery date wasn't even set?
157AnonymousAug 22, 2026 21:01
Re: #147
Don't call it 'just an accident.' They had families too, same as you.
165AnonymousAug 22, 2026 21:04
Re: #157
But it was just an accident. Are you saying that counts as defending Japan lol?
160AnonymousAug 22, 2026 21:01
Couldn't you easily win something like a hundred million yen (roughly $700,000) if you sued in the US?
184AnonymousAug 22, 2026 21:14
Re: #160
There was an American lawyer running a campaign to make US soldiers who got Japanese women pregnant and then fled back home pay child support.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Breaking News Plus) thread “Zushi ‘Rammed by a US Soldier’ Case: Japanese Government to Cover Remaining Damages as Victim Still Suffers Lasting Effects.”
