TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police arrested a U.S. Marine in connection with the alleged robbery and murder of a woman on Okinawa, officials stated on Sunday. This incident marks the latest criminal case on the southern island, where the presence of American troops has been a sensitive issue.
The Okinawa prefectural police reported the arrest of a 20-year-old Marine stationed at the Futenma Air Station. He is suspected of killing a 39-year-old local woman at a hotel in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa, and stealing her wallet and backpack in the early hours of Saturday.
According to Kyodo News agency, citing police sources, the woman's body was discovered in her hotel room, and she appeared to have been strangled.
Police indicated that security camera footage showed the suspect entering the hotel with the victim and exiting alone. An officer apprehended the suspect after observing him walking alone in Naha’s entertainment district late Saturday, as reported by Kyodo.
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja expressed that the case has caused significant shock and fear among Okinawans, who already live near U.S. bases. He stated, “It is absolutely unforgivable and we are outraged.” Koja also criticized the U.S. military's measures for discipline and troop education in light of past criminal incidents.
Approximately 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan under a bilateral security agreement, with about half located on Okinawa. The strategic role of Okinawa is increasingly emphasized in the context of the Japan-U.S. military alliance amid rising tensions with China.
Residents of Okinawa have long raised concerns about noise, pollution, and crime associated with U.S. bases, with incidents involving U.S. service members complicating relations between Japan’s central government and the Okinawa administration. This latest case arises as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet seeks to enhance Japan's military presence on Okinawa and strengthen cooperation with the U.S. military.
Takaichi described the crime as “extremely regrettable” in a message on X, stating that her government has lodged a strong protest with the U.S. and demanded full cooperation with Japanese authorities in the investigation, alongside calls for stricter discipline for U.S. service members and preventive measures.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass to express “outrage,” according to a ministry statement. Glass conveyed condolences to the victim’s family and noted that the United States is cooperating with both national and local Japanese governments.
The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that the suspect is part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa and is fully cooperating with Japanese authorities. The Marine Corps emphasized that it takes these allegations seriously and expects all Marines to uphold the highest standards of conduct.
Futenma base, situated in a densely populated area in central Okinawa, has been a contentious issue for many residents, who have called for its relocation. Despite protests, the central government approved plans to move the base to Henoko on Okinawa’s eastern coast, although the project has faced significant delays.
A high-profile incident in 1995 involving the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. service members led to widespread protests against the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. According to prefectural police, the number of arrests related to U.S. service members and their families exceeded 100 last year, with repeated incidents of sexual crimes and delayed disclosures also provoking outrage in recent years.