Japan’s Takaichi protests to US after Marine accused of murder in Okinawa

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lodged a formal protest with the United States on Sunday following the arrest of a US Marine accused of murdering a Japanese woman in Okinawa. The victim, Anna Yagi, 39, was found dead in a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture, on Saturday along with her wallet and backpack. The Marine, Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is currently in Japanese custody as the investigation unfolds.

Takaichi expressed her regret over the "extremely brutal and vicious incident," urging the US to provide maximum cooperation with the investigation and take disciplinary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, echoed these sentiments, stating that the incident is "unacceptable" and deeply upsetting.

Both the US embassy and the Marine Corps expressed condolences and affirmed their commitment to cooperating with the Japanese authorities. Okinawa, home to around 18,000 US Marines, has a history of strained relations with its residents due to issues such as noise disturbances and misconduct by servicemen. The recent incident could potentially hinder efforts to relocate some Marines to a more remote facility in Henoko, a move strongly opposed by local residents.