Tokyo Protests to Washington After Arrest of American Soldier Suspected of Killing Japanese Woman

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takachi presented a protest to the United States on Sunday after a U.S. Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman and robbing her in Okinawa.

Japanese police said that 20-year-old Devin Jacob Ballard is suspected of killing 39-year-old Anna Yaji on Saturday in a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, and stealing her wallet and bag, while Ballard denied the charges against him.

Takachi stated in a statement that the occurrence of "such a brutal and wicked incident is extremely regrettable," adding that the Japanese government "strongly protests to the U.S. side" and demands maximum cooperation in the investigation, as well as tightening discipline and taking comprehensive measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

The U.S. Embassy and the Marine Corps expressed their condolences and confirmed their cooperation with Japanese authorities.

The U.S. Marine Corps announced in a statement that the suspect, who serves at the Futenma Air Base in southern Japan, is being held by Japanese authorities.

The Marine Corps "takes such allegations seriously and expects all of its members to adhere to the highest standards of conduct."

Most of the approximately 18,000 U.S. Marines stationed in Japan are located on Okinawa Island, which has been under U.S. administration since the end of World War II until 1972.

The U.S. military presence on the island has repeatedly caused discontent among residents due to noise, aircraft-related incidents, and incidents involving American military personnel.

The rape of a 12-year-old girl from Okinawa by three American servicemen in 1995 sparked widespread protests.