Japan protests grow after US Marine murder allegation

Dozens of protesters gathered outside Japan's Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on Thursday following the accusation that a US Marine killed a woman in Okinawa. Signs held by the demonstrators condemned crimes committed by US service members. The case is part of a series of incidents over the years that have increased concerns about the large US military presence on the Japanese islands, particularly on Okinawa near Taiwan and China.

US officials have stated the presence could strain the already tense security relations in East Asia. However, public reaction to the latest incident, involving the killing of 39-year-old Anna Yagi, has been less intense compared to previous mass protests. Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is accused of murdering Yagi in a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, and stealing her belongings.

Ballard has denied the allegations. At the protest, leaders called for government action and addressed the issue of abuse by US servicemen. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the killing "extremely brutal and heinous" and said Japan protested strongly to the US, demanding measures to prevent similar incidents. Japan hosts the largest number of US troops abroad, with around 18,000 stationed on the island, most of them in Okinawa since the end of World War Two.

The presence of the US forces has long been a source of frustration for residents over issues such as noise, air crashes, and personnel misconduct. On Wednesday, the US began a 48-hour pause in military operations and banned alcohol while troops received training on standards and discipline. Service members were also given a month-long curfew as part of a period of reflection.