Japan’s Takaichi Protests US as Marine Held on Suspicion of Murder in Okinawa

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has lodged a strong protest with the United States after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a Japanese woman at a hotel in Okinawa. The case has renewed concerns over the conduct of US military personnel on the Japanese island, where the American military presence has long been controversial.

Police arrested 20-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard on Sunday over the suspected killing of 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. Police said Ballard is suspected of taking Yagi’s wallet and backpack after the alleged killing. He has denied the allegations.

Japanese media reported that security camera footage showed a man believed to be Ballard entering the hotel with Yagi and later leaving alone. Police later spotted the suspect walking in Naha and arrested him. Reports citing police said Yagi appeared to have been strangled.

Takaichi described the incident as extremely brutal and heinous and said the Japanese government had strongly protested to the US. She demanded maximum cooperation with the investigation, tighter discipline among US military personnel and measures to prevent similar incidents.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also summoned US Ambassador George Glass and conveyed Japan’s strong protest. Glass expressed condolences to Yagi’s family and said the United States was cooperating with Japanese and local authorities.

The US Marine Corps said Ballard is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. It said he was in Japanese custody and that the allegations were being taken seriously.

Okinawa Governor Genta Koja also condemned the incident, saying it had caused shock and fear among residents and questioned the effectiveness of previous US military measures on discipline and troop education. Takaichi referred to the case again on Monday while delivering a policy speech to parliament.

Okinawa hosts a large share of the US military presence in Japan. Residents have long raised concerns over crime, noise and aircraft-related incidents. A 1995 rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three US servicemen triggered mass protests and intensified opposition to the US military presence.

The latest case could further complicate efforts to relocate the US Marine Corps’ Futenma base to Henoko, a plan that has faced prolonged opposition and delays. Okinawa is also strategically important to Japan and the US because of its proximity to Taiwan and its role in regional security.