Alleged killing by Marine prompts US military to restrict off-base liberty in Okinawa

The U.S. military in Okinawa, Japan, is beginning an operational pause for 48 hours, prohibiting off-base liberty and ordering training after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing and robbing a woman.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, Okinawa Area Coordinator and commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force, said in a letter on Tuesday that incidents like this "demand we pause for reflection" and that serving on the island "comes with responsibility."

"We speak often about standards and discipline. Standards are what we expect, and my standards are clear: be accountable for your actions; do the right thing, especially when no one is looking; and always be guided by our core values that govern our conduct at every rank," he wrote.

"We live, work, and socialize alongside the people of Okinawa; their home is our home. Every interaction with our neighbors either builds or undermines the trust that is essential to our team. When that trust is damaged, it affects the strength of our alliance and the security of this region. Accordingly, we will take time to think hard about discipline, standards and our alliance responsibilities," Watson added.

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The arrest of the Marine has sparked protests against the heavy American military presence on the southern Japanese island and concerns over military-related crime.

Japanese officials have also lodged a formal protest with the U.S. government. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned U.S. Ambassador George Glass and called for cooperation with the investigation, stricter discipline among U.S. personnel and measures to prevent similar incidents.

The killing could complicate Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to both strengthen the Japanese military on Okinawa and work more closely with the U.S. military to deter China.

The pause in operations will last from Wednesday through Friday, during which no "off-base liberty" or alcohol will be allowed. Restricting troops from leaving military bases and interacting with the local community is a common response by military leaders to major crime incidents.

Service members will receive training on standards, discipline and "our responsibilities as members of the Okinawan community," Watson said.

"This Period of Training will include discussions on liberty policy, enforcement mechanisms, alcohol awareness, Okinawan culture, and alliance responsibilities. Every member of this force must understand that individual conduct has consequences," he said.

After the training, which will begin on Friday, troops will transition into a 30-day "Period of Reflection."

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During this period, Watson said there will be "restrictions on liberty" to remind all military personnel that "liberty is a privilege and a collective responsibility." These restrictions will include a curfew and enhanced supervision.

"Liberty is a mission, and like any other mission it requires discipline, trust and teamwork to complete it successfully," he said. "Take care of your teammates. Hold one another accountable. Live up to the high standards that come with the uniform you wear."

Okinawa prefectural police said they arrested Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Futenma Air Station, on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in the island’s capital city of Naha early Saturday and stealing her wallet and backpack.

Ballard has denied the allegations.

Security camera footage showed a man entering the hotel with the woman and later leaving alone.

Ballard was arrested after a patrolling officer spotted him walking later on Saturday in an entertainment district in Okinawa City, about 15 miles northeast of Naha. His shaved head and the tattoos on his arms matched those of the man seen in security footage, Kyodo News agency reported.

People in Okinawa have long opposed the heavy U.S. military presence on the island, although some have acknowledged its strategic benefit due to what is seen as a growing threat from China.

Okinawa was under U.S. occupation from World War II until 1972. Now, the U.S. population on the island is nearly 80,000, with nearly 30,000 being active duty troops from all four branches of the armed forces. The Marines make up most of the service members on the island.

A rise in crime linked to U.S. military-related personnel has led to renewed protests on the island. The number of criminal cases involving U.S. military-related personnel rose from about 40 in 2020 to 101 in 2025, according to Okinawa prefectural police.

After three U.S. service members raped a 12-year-old girl in 1995, huge crowds protested the U.S. military presence on Okinawa. There was also frustration over a U.S. service member's rape of a teenage girl in 2024 and the delayed disclosure of the case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.