Okinawa presses Tokyo for stronger accountability over US bases
Governor Genta Koja urged Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to seek effective discipline of US service members and address Okinawa’s burden of hosting military bases.
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja has urged Japan’s central government to press for effective discipline among US service members, following the arrest of a Marine on suspicion of strangling and robbing a local woman. Koja raised the issue with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Wednesday, also calling for efforts to reduce the burden of hosting US military bases.
Marine Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, was arrested on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, and stealing her wallet and backpack. He denies the allegations, according to Japanese media.
Koja said previous US military discipline and human rights education had not worked. Residents have long raised concerns about the military presence, including noise, pollution, aircraft crashes and alleged crimes involving personnel.
The US military in Okinawa announced a 48-hour pause in military operations for training, restrictions on troops leaving base and a ban on alcohol. It also announced a 30-day period of reflection, with a curfew requiring personnel to be at their assigned quarters or off-base residence between midnight and 5am.
Takaichi said Japan and the US would discuss effective preventive measures and that she expected further steps from the US government. The two governments have not specified what additional measures they may adopt.
