The U.S. ambassador said his office was "providing full cooperation with the investigation."

A U.S. service member was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery after a Japanese woman’s body was discovered in a hotel in Okinawa, local officials said, describing the alleged killing as a “heinous” incident that prompted the Japanese government to lodge a protest with the United States.

Shinjiro Koizumi, the Japanese minister of defense, said a U.S. Marine lance corporal was arrested on Sunday after the woman’s body was found early on Saturday in Naha, the capital city of the Okinawa prefecture.

NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, identified the suspect as Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who was stationed at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, a base a few miles outside Naha. The broadcaster identified the alleged victim as Yagi Anna, 39, saying she was pronounced dead at the scene after being found at about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Okinawa Prefectural Police were investigating the incident as a murder.

  • bluefootedbooby@sopuli.xyz
    51·
    4 days ago

    I was planning a trip to Japan recently and remember seeing warnings of “be careful where you go in Okinawa, especially if you’re an alone woman, because the American base is where all the rape happens”. I see I was right not to go to that area.

    • fake@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      5·
      4 days ago

      In my experience in the couple of times I’ve visited Okinawa, you barely see US service members. You will be mistaken for one if you’re not asian, which isn’t a great experience given what the locals have had to endure. There’s a definite tone shift when people realise you aren’t American. But unless you’re putting yourself in risky situations or seeking out service members, it’s as safe as anywhere else in Japan as a tourist.

      • MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
        6·
        4 days ago

        But unless you’re putting yourself in risky situations or seeking out service members, it’s as safe as anywhere else in Japan as a tourist.

        That’s so weird how this sentence could read the same way replacing “service members” with “yakuza”.

        Like I didn’t think I’d see stattioned military in an allied country as “rarer than you think, but don’t go looking for them if you wanna stay safe.” Yikes.