US Marine Arrested in Okinawa Over Killing of Japanese Woman, Japan Lodges Strong Protest
Japan has lodged a strong protest with the United States after a 20-year-old US Marine was arrested in Okinawa on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman, a case that has reignited anger over the American military presence on the southern island.
The US Marine arrested is Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, a member of the III Marine Expeditionary Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Police in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture, took him into custody on Sunday, October 4, on suspicion of murder and robbery.
Officers allege that Ballard killed Anna Yagi, a 39-year-old Japanese woman, at a hotel in Naha in the early hours of Saturday, and stole her wallet and backpack. A hotel employee found Yagi dead in her room after she failed to check out. Police say Ballard has denied the allegations.
US Marine arrested: how police made the arrest
Japanese broadcaster NHK, citing investigation sources, reported that CCTV footage showed a foreign man entering a hotel room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings. A man matching the description was asked to voluntarily accompany police officers and was then arrested.
Stars and Stripes, citing Okinawa police, reported that surveillance footage showed Yagi entering the hotel with Ballard before he later left alone. Police subsequently located the Marine in Okinawa City and made the arrest.
Japan’s furious response
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the killing in the strongest terms. “The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and vicious incident is extremely regrettable,” she said in a statement. She said Japan had lodged a strong protest with the US side and demanded maximum cooperation with the investigation, stricter discipline among American military personnel, and thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, over the incident. Motegi urged the American military to strengthen discipline and prevent a repeat of such a tragedy.
The US Embassy in Tokyo said on social media that it was aware a service member was in custody following the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa. “We extend our sincere condolences to the victim’s family,” the embassy said. “The United States is communicating and cooperating with the Government of Japan and local authorities.”
The Marine Corps said the suspect was in Japanese custody and that it took the allegations “very seriously”. “The Marine Corps takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behavior,” it said in a statement.
A long and bitter history
Crimes involving US personnel have long strained relations in Okinawa, where most of the 18,000 Japan-based Marines are stationed. The American presence on the island, which the US administered from the end of World War Two until 1972, has repeatedly stirred resentment among residents over noise, aircraft crashes and the conduct of troops.
The 1995 rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three American servicemen set off mass protests. A US serviceman was sentenced to life in prison in 2017 for the rape and murder of a local woman, and another received a seven-year sentence in a recent attempted rape case.
The killing could complicate Takaichi’s efforts to relocate some Marines from the busy Futenma air base to a more remote facility at Henoko. Opponents of the plan want the troops moved out of the prefecture altogether.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the US Marine arrested in Okinawa?
Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. He denies the allegations against him.
What has Japan demanded from the US?
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lodged a strong formal protest, demanding full cooperation with the investigation, stricter discipline among US military personnel, and concrete measures to stop such incidents recurring.
Why is the US military presence in Okinawa controversial?
Most of the 18,000 Japan-based Marines are stationed in Okinawa, and crimes by US personnel, including the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl, have fuelled decades of protests and resentment among residents.
