Japan demands tighter US troop discipline after Okinawa killing

Japan is demanding tighter discipline among American troops after a Marine Corps lance corporal was arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman on the southern island of Okinawa, Tokyo’s top government spokesman said.

Local police arrested a 20-year-old US serviceman on suspicion of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi early Saturday at a hotel in the city of Naha. National broadcaster NHK said that a cord-like object was found wrapped around the woman’s neck, citing police investigators.

Japanese authorities have sought “stricter discipline and steps to ensure there’s no recurrence” from the US military, chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said at a regular press conference on Monday. “We would like to work together with the US to ensure that this incident does not happen again.”

The incident threatens to reignite local opposition to the US military presence on Okinawa, where around 30,000 American service members are based. The rape of a ​12-year-old Okinawan ⁠girl by three US troops in 1995 triggered major protests, and serious crimes involving US military personnel since then have periodically stoked opposition to the American military presence on the island.

Prime minister Sanae Takaichi responded to the latest incident on social media on Sunday.

“The occurrence of such an ​extremely brutal and vicious incident is extremely regrettable,” Takaichi said in a post on X. “The government of Japan strongly protests to the US side and strongly seeks ​maximum cooperation with the investigation,” she wrote.

US ambassador to Japan George Glass was summoned by foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and issued with a protest on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the foreign ministry. On X, Glass expressed “deep regret” for the loss of life and pledged “full cooperation with the investigation.”

The incident poses an early challenge for new Okinawa governor Genta Koja, an ally of Takaichi who supports a stronger defence posture despite longstanding local opposition to the heavy US military presence. Koja said he would travel to Tokyo to lodge a protest over the incident.