Japan PM demands strict discipline among US troops after Okinawa woman’s murder

New Delhi: The Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has condemned the alleged robbery-murder of a woman in Okinawa after a US marine was arrested in connection with the case. In a post on X, Takaichi said Japan had lodged a strong protest with the United States and demanded maximum cooperation with the investigation, strict discipline among US military personnel and measures to prevent similar incidents.

“I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in the robbery-murder incident that occurred in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, and extend my sympathies to their bereaved families,” Takaichi said. She described the incident as “extremely brutal and heinous” and said the government would address the case with the utmost care and diligence.

US marine sent to prosecutors

The Okinawa police arrested 20-year-old US marine, Devin Jacob Ballard, on Sunday over the alleged killing and robbery of 39-year-old Naha resident Anna Yagi. Ballard is based at a US military base in Futenma, Okinawa, and is part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. He was sent to prosecutors on Monday.

Police said Yagi was found dead in a hotel room in Naha early on Saturday. Investigators believe she was killed between around 2am and 4am, and a detailed examination found that she died from suffocation caused by pressure on her neck.

Police also suspect that her wallet and other belongings were stolen. Security camera footage reportedly showed a person entering the hotel with a woman and later leaving with items, while investigators said the person’s hair and tattoos resembled those of Ballard.

Ballard was found late Saturday in an entertainment district in Okinawa City, about 18km from the hotel. According to media reports, he has denied the allegations, reportedly telling police that he “did not know”.

Japan demands US cooperation

The Japanese foreign vice-minister, Takehiro Funakoshi, expressed Japan’s “extreme regret” in a call with US ambassador, George Glass, and demanded full cooperation with the investigation and tighter discipline among US military personnel.

The Japanese defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, said he had summoned the commander of US forces Japan and strongly protested over the robbery-murder in Naha. He demanded appropriate measures for the victim’s family, full cooperation in the investigation, strict discipline among US military personnel and steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

Japan-US agreement comes into focus

The case has also highlighted the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the legal treatment of American military personnel in Japan. The agreement gives the US primary jurisdiction over offences committed by service members while carrying out official duties.

For offences committed while off duty, Japan can exercise jurisdiction under the agreement, with separate provisions covering custody of suspects. Japanese police have said Ballard was arrested in Japan because the alleged killing was unrelated to his official military duties.

Protests erupt over latest case

The killing has reignited anger in Okinawa, where residents have long protested against crimes and accidents involving US military personnel. Japanese media reported that about 100 people gathered outside the Okinawa prefectural government building on Sunday, while another rally took place in Naha.

Okinawa native Sorane Sakihama, 24, who organized a protest in Tokyo, said she cried after learning about Yagi’s death. She said she planned another demonstration outside the US embassy and questioned the purpose of the US military presence after a local woman was allegedly killed by a US service member.

Longtime Okinawa resident Ai Sato, 52, told the BBC that her first reaction to the latest case was, “Not again.” She said similar incidents had continued for decades and questioned how many more victims and grieving families would have to endure them.

Okinawa’s long-running US military burden

Okinawa hosts the largest concentration of US military forces in Japan. About 54,000 US military personnel, including around 18,000 marines, are stationed across Japan, with a major share based in Okinawa.

The islands were under US administration after World War II before being returned to Japan in 1972. According to the Okinawa prefectural government, 6,409 arrests for criminal offences involving US military personnel have been recorded since the reversion.

The US military presence has repeatedly triggered local protests over alleged rape, assault, hit-and-run and drink-driving incidents, as well as noise and aircraft accidents. In 1995, three US servicemen abducted, beat and raped a 12-year-old girl, while the 2016 rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman led to mass protests and the subsequent conviction of a former US marine. The latest case has once again brought Okinawa’s long-running concerns over the US military presence to the forefront