Keishi Koja
@keishirkoja.bsky.social
Okinawa-based reporter and translator for Stars and Stripes.
Marines to bring new missile systems closer to Taiwan during Keen Sword exercise
Marines to bring new missile systems closer to Taiwan during Keen Sword exercise
The Marine Corps will deploy NMESIS and MADIS, two of its newest missile systems, to Japan’s westernmost island for the first time during the exercise.
stripes.com
Marine Corps releases service record of lance corporal accused in Okinawa homicide
Marine Corps releases service record of lance corporal accused in Okinawa homicide
Marine Corps identifies Okinawa-based combat engineer arrested on suspicion of homicide, as the service works to rebuild trust with local community.
stripes.com
Army skips Okinawa tug-of-war ceremony after Marine is accused of killing local woman
Army skips Okinawa tug-of-war ceremony after Marine is accused of killing local woman
Army withdraws from Okinawa’s Naha Tug-of-War event following Marine’s arrest, emphasizing respect for the local community.
stripes.com
Okinawa governor confronts US military over Marine suspected of weekend homicide
Okinawa governor confronts US military over Marine suspected of weekend homicide
Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja called for revisions to the agreement governing U.S. military personnel in Japan after Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard’s arrest.
stripes.com
Okinawa police arrest US Marine on suspicion of killing Japanese woman at hotel
Okinawa police arrest US Marine on suspicion of killing Japanese woman at hotel
Okinawa police arrested a U.S. Marine early on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman and stealing her belongings at a hotel.
stripes.com
New Okinawa governor to dissolve office that fought Marine airfield construction
New Okinawa governor to dissolve office that fought Marine airfield construction
Okinawa’s new governor moved to dismantle the government office his predecessors used in their fight against construction of a new Marine Corps airfield.
stripes.com
Chinese research-vessel activity more than triples around Japan’s southwestern islands
Chinese research-vessel activity more than triples around Japan’s southwestern islands
Japan’s coast guard has reported 14 cases of Chinese research ships operating in the country’s exclusive economic zone around Okinawa and its remote islands..
stripes.com
US Army to temporarily store advanced missile systems on Okinawa
US Army to temporarily store advanced missile systems on Okinawa
The U.S. Army will temporarily store its missile systems at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa starting in mid-October, Japan’s Defense Ministry said.
stripes.com
US military families face weeks in hotels amid Okinawa housing shortage
US military families face weeks in hotels amid Okinawa housing shortage
Okinawa military families face housing shortages, spending weeks in hotels as limited on-base and off-base homes drive long wait times.
stripes.com
Nearly 90 residents of neighboring Chatan town rehearsed an evacuation to higher ground on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Saturday, three months after a tsunami alert prompted the base to open the same escape route for real.
Okinawa air base rehearses tsunami escape route opened for actual alerts 3 years running
Nearly 90 people rehearsed an evacuation to higher ground on Kadena Air Base.
stripes.com
Japanese F-15s encounter third malfunction in a month on Okinawa
Japanese F-15s encounter third malfunction in a month on Okinawa
Japanese F-15 fighter makes precautionary landing at Kadena Air Base after hydraulic malfunction, the third incident involving the fighter in a month.
stripes.com
Japan probes first Global Hawk crash, says surveillance missions will continue
Japan probes first Global Hawk crash, says surveillance missions will continue
The crash of a Japanese RQ-4B Global Hawk will not impede Self-Defense Force missions, according to the country’s Defense Ministry.
stripes.com
Okinawa elects first governor in 12 years to support Marine airfield relocation
Okinawa elects first governor in 12 years to support Marine airfield relocation
Okinawans elected their first governor in 12 years to support the controversial relocation of a Marine Corps airfield.
stripes.com
Japanese F-15 disrupts Okinawa flights in second incident in less than a month
Japanese F-15 disrupts Okinawa flights in second incident in less than a month
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J Eagle made a precautionary landing at Naha Airport.
stripes.com
US, Japan offer few details on report linking Okinawa bases to PFAS contamination
US, Japan offer few details on report linking Okinawa bases to PFAS contamination
The U.S. military did not confirm or deny a report that American officials identified two U.S. airfields on Okinawa as likely sources of PFAS contamination.
stripes.com
U.S. military bases around the world marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Friday with ceremonies, stair climbs and other physical challenges honoring victims and first responders.
Stair climbs, solemn ceremonies mark 25th anniversary of 9/11 at overseas bases
Overseas U.S. bases marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with stair climbs and other challenges honoring victims and first responders.
stripes.com
More than 11 tons of World War II ordnance cleared from Okinawa in a year
More than 11 tons of World War II ordnance cleared from Okinawa in a year
Japan’s military cleared 20,138 pieces of ordnance weighing 11.47 tons in the past fiscal year, as the former battleground continues to yield buried ammunition.
stripes.com
American tourist accused of setting Okinawa hotel fire where Marine helped rescue guests
American tourist accused of setting Okinawa hotel fire where Marine helped rescue guests
An American tourist faces arson and attempted murder charges for an Okinawa hotel fire wherein a Marine helped rescue guests.
stripes.com
Air Force moves to ease Okinawa housing shortage as families wait weeks for homes
Air Force moves to ease Okinawa housing shortage as families wait weeks for homes
Military families arriving on Okinawa are spending an average of three to five weeks searching for homes amid a tight housing market, officials said.
stripes.com
United to launch first nonstop US-Okinawa flight in more than 50 years
United to launch first nonstop US-Okinawa flight in more than 50 years
United Airlines will begin service between Naha and San Francisco International airports.
stripes.com
Marine found dead in vehicle on Okinawa ID’d as 20-year-old corporal
Marine found dead in vehicle on Okinawa ID’d as 20-year-old corporal
A Marine found dead last week inside a vehicle in northern Okinawa has been identified as Cpl. Joseph R. McDonald.
stripes.com
US military moves ships, aircraft as another strong storm approaches Okinawa
US military moves ships, aircraft as another strong storm approaches Okinawa
U.S. military installations on Okinawa moved ships and aircraft, secured facilities and prepared as Typhoon Saudel approached the island.
stripes.com
Marine found dead with head wound inside vehicle on Okinawa
Marine found dead with head wound inside vehicle on Okinawa
A U.S. Marine was found dead with a head wound inside a vehicle in northern Okinawa.
stripes.com
Russian missile drills near disputed islands deepen tensions with Japan
Russian missile drills near disputed islands deepen tensions with Japan
Russia fired antiship and cruise missiles during naval drills near islands claimed by Japan, according to Moscow.
stripes.com
Marine rushes into burning Okinawa hotel to alert sleeping occupants
Marine rushes into burning Okinawa hotel to alert sleeping occupants
Marine Lance Cpl. Marshall Martinez ran into a burning Okinawa hotel to help people evacuate.
stripes.com
Japanese F-15 mishap closes runway, disrupts flights at Okinawa airport Read more at: www.stripes.com/theaters/asi...
Japanese F-15 mishap closes runway, disrupts flights at Okinawa airport
An equipment failure on a Japanese fighter jet, an F-15J Eagle, caused a closure at one of the Naha Airport runways for several hours delaying more than 40 commercial flights.
stripes.com
Inspection teams visited 11 U.S. installations in the Pacific in May 2025 and documented issues at Air Force and Marine Corps facilities on Okinawa and at Yokota in western Tokyo, according to a heavily redacted, 48-page report. From Stars and Stripes' Joseph Ditzler:
IG report details mold, failing pipes and deteriorating facilities at US bases in Japan
Inspection teams visited 11 U.S. installations in the Pacific in May 2025 and documented issues U.S. miliitary installations.
stripes.com
North Korea launched a ballistic missile early Wednesday that flew about 430 miles off its eastern coast before falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to South Korean and Japanese defense officials. Read more at: www.stripes.com/theaters/asi...
North Korean missile reaches 56-mile altitude before falling west of Hokkaido
North Korea launched a ballistic missile early Wednesday that flew about 430 miles off its eastern coast before falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone
stripes.com
Okinawa bases brace for lengthy lockdown, flooding from Typhoon Dolphin
Okinawa bases brace for lengthy lockdown, flooding from Typhoon Dolphin
Typhoon Dolphin puts military bases on Okinawa at highest alert as residents stock up, fill sandbags and prepare for high winds, flooding, power outages.
stripes.com
An emergency alert warning of a "real world active shooter" locked down Okinawa's Kadena Air Base late Tuesday, prompting a response by law enforcement before officials said no threat was found.
False active-shooter report triggers lockdown at Air Force base on Okinawa
Kadena Air Base went on lockdown for about an hour before it was lifted, and officials said no threat was substantiated.
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