A continuing string of crimes by members of the U.S. military based in Japan has stirred a growing sense of indignation among the locals. To drive home the point -- that rape, armed robbery, burglary and, recently, the murder of a Japanese taxi driver by a U.S. sailor -- are not to be tolerated, area commanders have been obliged to adopt increasingly draconian measures, such as imposing a nighttime curfew or restricting men to the base.

Since the end of the Pacific War, the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa has played host to a huge U.S. military presence. As one means of sustaining the local economy, the island has long harbored a thriving sex industry catering to the soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines assigned there.

Before Okinawa reverted to Japanese administrative control in 1972, the authorities turned a blind eye to prostitution. But even afterwards the sex businesses has continued to flourish -- or did, at least, until the naughty Yanks were ordered to go to their rooms and stand in the corner.

Writing in Uramono Japan (June) Tamio Hirokawa, a 32-year-old businessman based in Fukuoka City, paid a recent visit and describes the relative inaction. His conclusion: Okinawa's night life, in its struggle to keep body and soul together, may soon be left with no choice but to alter operations, shifting away from catering to Yanks in uniform to servicing civilians from the Japanese main islands.

Truly, Hirokawa writes, the clusters of clubs and bars situated outside the bases on Okinawa must vie with Bangkok in terms of sheer raunchiness.

In Kinbu Village, adjacent to the big Camp Hansen Marine base in the central part of the island, establishments referred to as "go-go bars" feature lively ladies from the Philippines. Bikini-clad girls, who appear to be in their early to mid-20s, bump and grind their hips to the rhythmic percussion.

The system, Hirokawa writes, is similar to Thailand. First you make eye contact and if a smile results, you offer them a drink. Then the naughty negotiations begin.

Since most of the clientele is American, few girls speak Japanese, so a basic knowledge of English is a prerequisite for making headway.

Should the buyer and seller find themselves in accord, the latter will take their customers by the hand and lead them upstairs, to conduct a frenzied quarter-hour quickie in a cramped cubicle.

The shocker here is the cost: just 3,000 yen for 15 minutes. These prices -- considering the quality of the companionship -- are unbelievably low, Hirokawa raves.

Customers with a more generous budget also have the option of going off the premises to avail themselves of nearby love hotels, where charges range from 10,000 yen for one hour or 25,000 yen for three hours.

Hirokawa's next destination is "Whisper Alley," a sleazy thoroughfare lined with "discos" and other establishments behind the main drag in Okinawa City, located adjacent to the big Kadena Air Force Base. This was a former red-light area that went by the name of Koza, and it appears that little has changed from the years of the Vietnam War.

Inside the discos, a variety of foxy females are available for dancing and other forms of short-term recreation. Filipinas and what appear to be Okinawan ladies are in abundance. But what catches Hirokawa's eye are the Caucasians. Yes, he smirks with smug satisfaction, this is may very well be the only place in Japan where blonde Caucasian hookers are available in quantity, and at affordable prices. Their going rate is 10,000 yen per hour.

Some of these disco girls are also willing to go for all nighters, and Hirokawa himself claims to have scored twice in this manner.

Strapping young soldiers have been the traditional patrons of such establishments. But if the crackdown continues and curfews on off-base cavorting remain in force, shops catering exclusively to Americans will almost certainly be forced seek new sources of sustenance.

While Japanese males have shied away from such spots up to now, Hirokawa is convinced that the welcome mat is out, and visitors from the Japanese main islands will be welcomed with traditional Okinawan hospitality.

So, Hirokawa tells Uramono Japan readers, the Okinawa sex trade's current shortfall may have a silver lining, in the form of affordable fun as far as Japanese are concerned. Before the word gets around, he advises, now is the time to set sails for a sexy southern sojourn with plenty of subtropical shenanigans! (By Masuo Kamiyama, contributing writer)