Japan has protested to the United States after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery following the discovery of a woman’s body in a hotel room in Okinawa.
The 39-year-old woman was found unresponsive in her hotel room in Naha, Okinawa, early Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
A 20-year-old US Marine stationed at Futenma Air Station on the island was arrested at about 1am on Sunday while walking around the city.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed outrage over the incident, describing the alleged crime as “extremely brutal and heinous.”
She said, “The Government of Japan has strongly protested to the U.S. side and has called for the fullest possible cooperation with the investigation, thorough discipline among U.S. military personnel, and comprehensive measures to prevent the recurrence of crimes and accidents.”
Police said the condition of the woman’s body suggested that she had been murdered, although they did not disclose further details.
CCTV footage reportedly showed a man believed to be a foreign national entering the hotel room with the woman and later leaving the building carrying her belongings.
The US Marine Corps said it was taking the allegations seriously and had extended its condolences to the victim’s family.
It said, “We are actively cooperating with Japanese authorities in response to allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force.”
The US Embassy in Tokyo also confirmed that a US service member was in custody following the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa.
It said, “As an investigation is underway to determine the facts of the case, the United States is communicating and cooperating with the Government of Japan and local authorities.”
The case comes amid longstanding tensions in Okinawa over the presence of US military personnel.
The island hosts a significant concentration of US military facilities and has previously witnessed protests over crimes and accidents involving American troops.
