Okinawa governor urges Japan action after US Marine arrested over killing

Growing anger after US Marine Devin Jacob Ballard was arrested on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39.Published On 7 Oct 20267 Oct 2026The governor of Okinawa has demanded that Japan’s central government do more to ensure effective discipline among United States service members on the southern island following the arrest of a US Marine on accusations that he robbed and murdered a local woman.Governor Genta Koja, in Tokyo for the first time since taking office a week ago, conveyed on Wednesday Okinawa’s outrage in his meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, asking her government for further efforts to reduce the burden of hosting US military bases on the small island.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Japanese PM-backed candidate wins Okinawa gubernatorial electionlist 2 of 3Japan summons US envoy as Marine arrested over killing in Okinawalist 3 of 3‘Smash the patriarchy’: Activists graffiti Cornell hall over gang rape caseend of list“Okinawa has requested preventive measures every time similar crimes were repeated in past, and now we have this case again,” Koja told Takaichi at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.“I must say past disciplinary measures and huma...