和许多读者一样，本文作者在上周末看到日本冲绳一名日本妇女疑似被美国海军陆战队员杀害的消息时感到震惊。虽然调查仍在进行中，但日本政府已向美国提出抗议。
Like many readers, this writer was shocked by the news this past weekend of the alleged murder of a Japanese woman in Okinawa by a U.S. Marine. While the investigation is still ongoing, the Japanese government has lodged a protest with the United States.
社交媒体上，美国驻东京大使馆发表评论称，它“向受害者家属致以诚挚的慰问”，并承认“正在进行调查以查明案件事实（美国正在与日本政府和地方当局沟通合作）”。然而，紧张局势不太可能轻易消散。这起恶劣悲剧发生的时机尤为不幸。
On social media, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo released a comment to the effect that it “extend(s) our sincere condolences to the victim’s family,” and acknowledged that “an investigation is under way to determine the facts of the case (in which) the United States is communicating and cooperating with the government of Japan and local authorities.”It is unlikely that tensions will easily dissipate, however. The timing of the heinous tragedy was particularly unfortunate.
全国议会特别会议原定于10月5日开幕，仅在事件发生几天前，而冲绳县知事古贺刚太的新政府也刚刚在9月30日上任。
An extraordinary session of the national parliament was set to begin on Oct. 5, only days after the incident, and the new administration of Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja had just assumed office shortly before, on Sept. 30.