The prefectural assembly in Okinawa adopted a resolution on Friday requesting modifications to the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement in response to allegations that a US Marine committed a serious crime against a local resident. The assembly directed the proposal to both the US embassy and the Japanese government, emphasizing the need for enhanced preventive measures by the US military.
Ryotaro Odo, who directs the assembly’s special committee overseeing US military bases, characterized the US military as failing to function properly due to deficiencies in training and discipline. He described the alleged incident as grave and called on the military to cooperate fully with investigative authorities and take appropriate disciplinary action. However, some assembly members criticized the resolution for not explicitly demanding the removal of the US military commander stationed in Okinawa.
Lance-Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, faces accusations in connection with the death of Anna Yagi, 39, which occurred at a hotel in Naha on Saturday. Ballard has contested these allegations. The incident has prompted demonstrations in both Tokyo and Okinawa, drawing heightened public attention to the matter.
Okinawa hosts the majority of the roughly 54,000 US military personnel deployed throughout Japan. The island has a long history of tensions stemming from crimes involving US service members, including sexual assaults, robberies, hit-and-run incidents, and driving under the influence cases. In response to the current situation, US military leadership implemented a 48-hour pause in operations beginning Wednesday and instituted a nighttime curfew from midnight to 5am effective Friday.
The Japanese government has taken diplomatic steps, summoning the US ambassador and the commanding officer of US forces in Okinawa to lodge formal protests. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi publicly condemned the alleged crime as heinous. The assembly previously pursued similar resolutions in 2024 following reports of sexual assaults by US servicemen, with multiple municipal assemblies filing official complaints.
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