The Japanese government formally protested to the United States on Sunday, 4 October 2026, after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman and stealing her belongings inside a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The incident prompted Tokyo to demand full cooperation with the investigation and tighter discipline among US military personnel.
US serviceman arrested in Naha
Okinawa police announced the arrest of Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is assigned to the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, on suspicion of killing Anna Yagi, 39, and taking her wallet and backpack.
According to police, Yagi was found unconscious inside a hotel room in Naha's Wakasa district at about 4.30am on Saturday, 3 October, and was later confirmed dead at the scene. The condition of the body led investigators to treat the incident as a killing and theft, while they continued investigating the circumstances of her death and the relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Security camera footage showed, according to police, a foreign man with a shaved head and tattoos on his arms entering the hotel with the victim and later leaving alone carrying her bag. Police launched a search for him based on his description and recorded movements.
At about 11.30pm on Saturday, investigators found a person matching the description walking alone in an entertainment district in Okinawa City. He had changed his clothes. Police took him in voluntarily for questioning, before saying that belongings in his possession helped identify him and led to his arrest at about 1am on Sunday.
Police trace suspect's movements
Ballard denied the allegations during questioning, telling police that he knew nothing about the incident. Japanese authorities are continuing to investigate his movements after leaving the hotel and the nature of his relationship with the victim, in co-ordination with US forces' investigative authorities.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the incident as extremely brutal and serious, saying her government had lodged a strong protest with the US side. She called for the highest level of co-operation with the investigation, tighter discipline and comprehensive measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also summoned George Glass, the US ambassador to Tokyo, and conveyed the government's protest over the arrest. Motegi stressed the need for the United States to co-operate fully with the ongoing investigation and strengthen oversight and discipline among its military personnel.
US ambassador pledges co-operation
Glass expressed his deep regret over the victim's death and confirmed that the United States would co-operate with Japanese authorities in the investigation and take possible measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring. The ambassador said he had also discussed the case with officials at Japan's Foreign Ministry and the governor of Okinawa, offering his condolences to the victim's family.
The US embassy said it was aware that a US serviceman had been detained following the death of a Japanese citizen in Okinawa, confirming that it was continuing to communicate and co-operate with the Japanese government and local authorities to establish the facts of the case. The Marine Corps also said the allegations concerned serious criminal conduct and that it was actively co-operating with Japanese investigators.
