October 5, 2026

The Okinawa prefectural police on October 4 arrested a U.S. marine assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa, on suspicion of robbery and murder.

Reportedly, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, killed a Japanese woman in her 30s at a hotel in Naha City in the early hours of October 3. He stole her wallet and other personal belongings, and fled the scene.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira in a street speech in Aomori City vehemently expressed his anger over the incident and protested to U.S. Forces Japan authorities, stating that strict measures to prevent a recurrence are absolutely essential.

Koike pointed out that 60 percent of crimes committed by U.S. servicemembers take place in Okinawa. He argued that no matter how many times the U.S. military promises to tighten its discipline, incidents and accidents will not cease as long as U.S. bases and the Marine Corps remain in Okinawa.

Koike added, “Realizing a peaceful Okinawa free of military bases is the wish of Okinawans, transcending political ideologies. For a safer Okinawa, let us together demand the immediate closure and removal of the U.S. Futenma base!”

Kinjo Takemasa, whose mother was killed in 1974 by a U.S. soldier from Camp Schwab who broke into their home to commit a burglary, said, “When incidents or accidents involving the U.S. military occur in Okinawa, the Japanese government never forcefully speaks out against the U.S. side. The only person who did was former Governor Tamaki Denny. New Okinawa Governor Koja Genta will be tested on whether he values human life. Okinawans cannot afford to have someone who simply brushes off this murder case.”

Kinjo added, “This is not just an issue for Okinawans. The Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which gives the USFJ special privileges, embodies a double-standard. The issue should be addressed nationwide. Koja should address it as well.”

According to the Okinawa prefectural government, 13 of the 14 homicides that occurred after Okinawa’s reversion to Japan in 1972 were committed by U.S. marines, and eight of the 14 victims were women.