US Marine Arrested in Okinawa Killing, Triggers Outrage in Japan

Japanese police arrested a 20-year-old U.S. Marine on suspicion of robbing and killing a woman on Okinawa, triggering outrage in Japan.

Lance Cpl. Kyodo News reported the woman's body was found in her hotel room and she appeared to have been strangled with a cord-like object. Ballard has denied the allegations. Security camera footage reportedly showed a man believed to be the suspect entering the hotel with the woman and leaving alone with her belongings. A patrolling police officer spotted Ballard in an entertainment district late Saturday and arrested him.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the incident as a heinous crime and said the government lodged a strong protest with Washington. She urged full cooperation with the investigation and strict discipline among US military personnel. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated Japan and the United States will work together to prevent a recurrence. Okinawa Governor Genta Koja called the case absolutely unforgivable and expressed outrage, stating that discipline and troop education are not working at all.

He summoned Japanese and U.S. officials, including Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson and Andrew Ou, to lodge a protest. Around 100 people participated in a rally in Naha on Sunday to protest the murder. Sorane Sakihama, 24, organized a similar rally in Tokyo. Okinawa hosts about half of the 50,000 U.S. troops deployed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, bearing a disproportionate burden of hosting about 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan. Past crimes involving U.S. service members have angered residents. The III Marine Expeditionary Force expressed condolences and confirmed cooperation with authorities.