PM Takaichi Condemns Marine for Strangling Okinawa Woman with Phone Cord

A 20-year-old US Marine faces formal charges for strangling a 39-year-old Japanese woman with a telephone cord and robbing her, according to an indictment released by prosecutors. Devin Jacob Ballard, who was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested on suspicion of killing Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, on October 3.

The indictment alleges that Ballard strangled Yagi before taking her backpack and wallet. While Ballard initially denied the allegations, the Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News reported that investigators say he has made statements suggesting his involvement. Security footage from the hotel reportedly shows a man believed to be Ballard entering the facility with Yagi and leaving alone while carrying her belongings.

The case has intensified diplomatic friction between Washington and Tokyo. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi registered a strong protest with the United States, describing the crime as brutal and heinous. She called for strict disciplinary action against US military personnel and thorough measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. The Marine Corps stated earlier this month that it is actively cooperating with Japanese authorities and extended condolences to the victim's family.

Okinawa hosts the largest concentration of US forces in Japan, with approximately 55,000 soldiers stationed in the prefecture. Governor Genta Koja said the local government has repeatedly asked the US to take action to prevent these incidents. He viewed the alleged crime as evidence of a lack of discipline among the troops.

Recent years have seen a rise in criminal cases involving US servicemen in the region. In 2024, there were four sexual assault cases involving US troops in Okinawa. Among them was air force member Brennon Washington, who received a five-year sentence for the rape and kidnapping of an underage girl. In 2025, Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman.

Public anger has manifested in street demonstrations and online campaigns. Approximately 100 people protested in both Naha and Tokyo earlier this month. Social media users demanded justice, with one commenting that enough is enough. The 1995 case, in which tens of thousands protested after the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl, remains the largest demonstration sparked by US military conduct in the prefecture.