Japan PM protests to US after marine accused of murder

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lodged a formal protest with the United States following the arrest of a US Marine in Okinawa, Japan, on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman, Anna Yagi, 39. Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused of taking Yagi's wallet and backpack from her hotel room in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. Ballard has denied the allegations.

Takaichi expressed deep regret over the "extremely brutal and vicious incident" in a statement. She called for maximum cooperation from the US side in the investigation and stressed the need for strict discipline and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi echoed her sentiments, expressing deep outrage over the incident.

The US embassy and the Marine Corps offered their condolences and confirmed they are cooperating with the Japanese authorities. The Marine Corps described the allegations as serious and emphasized the importance of adhering to the highest standards of behaviour.

Okinawa, where most of the 18,000 Japan-based US Marines are stationed, has seen tensions rise due to issues such as noise, aircraft crashes, and personnel misconduct. In 1995, three US servicemen were involved in the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl, leading to widespread protests. The recent murder could complicate Takaichi's plans to relocate some Marines from the Futenma air base to a more remote location at Henoko, which is opposed by local residents.