U.S. Marines charged with rape of Japanese woman

On Thursday, the top commander of the U.S forces in Japan told reporters the military had set up a task force to review and strengthen programmes to prevent sexual harassment and assault.

"It is our job to do everything we can to restore the confidence of the Japanese people in the U.S. forces stationed here in Japan," Lieutenant General Bruce Wright said.

Last Sunday, the mayor of Iwakuni city lost a re-election bid he had hoped would give him a mandate to battle on against a U.S.-Japan plan to expand a U.S. Marine base in the city.

(Reporting by Linda Sieg; Editing by Mike Miller)