Aceh – Indonesia, The Japanese government lodged a protest with the United States (US) on Sunday (4/10) over a murder case allegedly involving a US Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture.

Meanwhile, Okinawa residents expressed their anger, stating that the presence of US military bases and the Japanese government’s inaction have allowed similar crimes to continue happening.

The Okinawa Prefectural Police arrested a US Marine on Sunday on suspicion of robbery and murder of a local woman early Saturday (3/10) local time at a hotel in Naha City.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in a post on X on Sunday that it was “extremely regrettable” that such a cruel and barbaric crime had occurred.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi respectively summoned US Ambassador to Japan George Glass and Commander of US Forces Japan (USFJ) Stephen Jost to convey a strong protest, urging the US military to tighten discipline and take comprehensive measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Okinawa residents expressed their anger over the case on Sunday, as reported by Kyodo News.

Shusei Arakawa, a local resident, said that the presence of US bases in Okinawa has sparked various incidents and accidents, and that many local residents have lost their lives since the US military was stationed there.

“This is not an Okinawa problem. This is a Japanese government problem,” said another resident, a man in his 50s. “Cases like this keep happening, but the government fails to take measures to address them.”

In Uruma City, Okinawa, residents staged a protest carrying signs with slogans such as “Make Okinawa a place where people can live in peace,” according to the report. One protester expressed anxiety, saying, “This could happen to my children or myself. You never know.”

On the same day, Okinawa Prefectural Police arrested two US military service members on suspicion of drunk driving.

Crimes involving US military personnel stationed in Japan, including serious offenses such as murder, rape, and robbery, have long been a source of deep concern among the public.

Official statistics show that in 2025 alone, the Okinawa Prefectural Police handled more than 100 criminal cases involving US service members and associated personnel.

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