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A US Marine’s arrest on suspicion of robbery-murder has prompted a rally in Okinawa and a formal Japanese protest to the US ambassador. The Marine denies the allegation.
What has changed? · 05/10/2026, 22:37 UTC
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Okinawa police arrested Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, in the early hours of 4 October on suspicion of robbery-murder. Anna Yagi, 39, had been found dead the previous day at a hotel in Naha. Police allege Ballard killed her and stole her belongings; they say he denies the allegation. Jiji Press reported that an autopsy found she died from asphyxiation caused by strangulation. [5] [6]
Japan’s foreign minister, Motegi, summoned US Ambassador George Glass on 4 October to protest over the case and demand full cooperation with the investigation. Defence Minister Koizumi said he also summoned the commander of US Forces Japan, Jost, seeking cooperation, a response to Yagi’s family and measures to prevent further incidents. According to the Japanese officials, Glass and Jost pledged to cooperate with investigators. [2] [4]
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said the case had brought shock and fear to residents near US bases. He argued that US military measures to improve discipline and training after earlier criminal cases were not working at all. [8]
Okinawa police recorded 101 cleared Penal Code cases involving US military personnel, civilian employees and their families in 2025, up from 73 in 2024. The accompanying person-count was 80 in both years, while cases in the police’s separate ‘heinous offences’ category fell from eight to six. Those counts are not convictions or population-adjusted rates: neither the rise in total cases nor the fall in that category establishes whether discipline and training measures have worked. [7]
Okinawa police arrested Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, early on 4 October on suspicion of robbery-murder. Police suspect him of killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha the previous day. Okinawa Television reported that her wallet and other belongings were taken. Ballard, who is assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, denies the allegation, according to a police spokesman quoted by Stars and Stripes.
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About 100 people gathered near the prefectural government offices in Naha on 4 October to protest over the case, according to Jiji Press. The BBC also reported protests in Tokyo. Okinawa resident Ai Sato told the BBC that her first reaction was ‘Not again’, and called for concrete measures to prevent further incidents. [12] [9]
Japan’s foreign minister, Motegi, summoned US ambassador George Glass and protested over the incident. According to Japan’s foreign ministry, Motegi sought full cooperation with the investigation, stronger discipline and steps to prevent a recurrence. The ministry said Glass expressed regret over the loss of life and pledged cooperation. A Marine Corps spokesman also said it was cooperating with Japanese authorities. [2] [5]
Police said Ballard was in Japanese custody on 4 October. TBS subsequently reported that he had been sent to Naha prosecutors; that referral is not a finding of guilt. Okinawa holds about 70% *by area* of Japan’s exclusive-use US military facilities, according to Japanese defence ministry figures for January 2025. [5] [11] [15]
Earlier safety efforts offer context, but not a measure of whether they have worked. Japan’s foreign ministry said US forces announced tougher checks, patrols and training after sexual-offence cases in 2024; it also recorded the completion of a revised orientation briefing for new arrivals in 2026. [13] [14] Okinawa police counted 101 cleared Penal Code cases involving US military personnel, civilian employees and their families in 2025, up from 73 in 2024, while cases in its serious-offence category fell from eight to six. Those figures are not convictions or population-adjusted crime rates, and they do not establish the effect of the safety measures. [7]