U.S. soldier points gun at Japanese woman through military facility fence

Jan 30, 2008

SAGAMIHARA, Kanagawa -- A U.S. soldier pointed a gun in the direction of a Japanese housewife through the fence of a U.S. military facility, sparking a protest from a local citizen's group, it has been learned.

The soldier, who was riding in a military vehicle, reportedly pointed the gun in the direction of the 49-year-old woman through the fence of the U.S. military's General Supply Depot in Sagamihara on Jan. 16.

"I was shocked, thinking, 'Is it pointed at me?' '" said the woman whose name was withheld.

U.S. military spokesman Edward Roper explained that troop defense training and patrols were being carried out on the base at the time and that the soldier was not taking aim at the woman. He said it was not good that the woman had felt uncomfortable, adding that there had been a gap in perceptions.

The housewife said that she was riding her bicycle on a road in Sagamihara at about 10:40 a.m. on Jan. 16 when three military vehicles on the other side of the fence passed her. She said that a soldier riding with his upper body above one of the vehicles pointed a gun at her.

A local citizen's group involved in protests related to the U.S. military's Camp Zama will send a request to the Sagamihara Municipal Government asking officials to seek an apology from the U.S. military and prevention of the recurrence of such an incident in the future.