Japan, US review military liberty policies after Okinawa killing

Prime Minister Sanae Takachi echoed this sentiment, indicating that the U.S. side intends to closely examine the code of conduct. Motegi had previously described the incident as "regrettable" in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who pledged U.S. cooperation in the investigation.

The suspect, U.S. Marine Devin Ballard, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested on October 4 on suspicion of robbing and murdering Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha the previous day. He has denied the allegations.

In response to the arrest, the U.S. military in Okinawa implemented a 48-hour suspension of normal operations and a 30-day curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. The current policy on off-base conduct was previously updated in 2024 after a series of sexual violence incidents involving U.S. military personnel, which included a ban on drinking in public off-base between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Past crimes involving U.S. military personnel have historically fueled anti-U.S. base sentiment in Okinawa, a prefecture that hosts the majority of U.S. Forces Japan facilities and was under U.S. control from 1945 to 1972.