Arrested US Marine in Okinawa sent to prosecutors amid outcry in Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara holds a regular press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 5, 2026. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Okinawa police on Monday sent a U.S. Marine arrested for the alleged robbery-murder of a local woman to prosecutors in a case that has caused a national outcry, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi telling parliament the government “strongly protests” the incident.

Takaichi, who was speaking on the first day of an extraordinary Diet session ahead of a policy speech, said Japan has also called for the full cooperation of the United States with the investigation and “strict discipline among U.S. military personnel” to prevent a recurrence.

Tokyo protested to the United States at various levels amid outrage after police said Sunday that Devin Ballard, a 20-year-old U.S. Marine stationed in the southern prefecture, had been arrested on suspicion of the robbery and murder of local woman Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in the prefectural capital Naha on Saturday.

Minoru Kihara, the government’s top spokesman who also serves as minister in charge of mitigating the impact of U.S. forces in Okinawa, told a press conference earlier Monday that “Japan and the United States will work together to thoroughly prevent a recurrence.”

Past crimes involving U.S. service members have angered residents of Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military installations in Japan.

Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja, who assumed his role last week after winning the gubernatorial race with the backing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, expressed his intention to travel to Tokyo as soon as this week to discuss the matter with Takaichi.

Koja said he will call for a “thorough investigation and measures to prevent further cases.”

On Sunday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass and lodged a “strong protest,” while Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also did so in Tokyo with Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, commander of U.S. Forces Japan.

Police on Sunday said Ballard denied the allegations.