Okinawa police arrested a US Marine after a woman was found dead in a Naha hotel, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan protested to the United States.
Japanese authorities arrested a US Marine after a woman was found dead in a hotel room in Naha, Okinawa, prompting a formal protest to Washington. The New York Times identified the Marine as Lance Corporal Devin J. Ballard, 20, assigned to the Third Marine Expeditionary Force, and the woman as Anna Yagi, 39.
CNN, citing Okinawa police, said the 39-year-old woman was found unresponsive in a Naha hotel room and pronounced dead early Saturday. Police told CNN the condition of the body indicated she appeared to have been murdered. The Marine, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested less than 24 hours later, CNN reported.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on X that Japan had strongly protested to the US side and asked for full cooperation with the investigation, stricter discipline of US personnel, and measures to prevent a recurrence. She described the alleged incident as extremely brutal and heinous, CNN reported. The US embassy offered condolences, and the Third Marine Expeditionary Force said a Marine was in custody and that the allegations were being taken seriously, the Times reported.
Japanese outlets reported surveillance footage of the Marine entering the hotel with Yagi early Saturday, the Times said. Police told CNN an investigation was continuing. The Times noted Okinawa hosts about 30,000 active-duty US personnel and that earlier crimes by US service members have fueled local opposition to the bases.
Neither outlet reported a court outcome. The case remains at the investigation and detention stage.