US Forces in Japan will implement a 48-hour operational pause starting noon Wednesday following the arrest of a U.S. Marine on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman. US Marine Devin Jacob Ballard has been arrested on suspicion of strangling 39-year-old Anna Yagi. During the operational pause, service members on Okinawa are prohibited from leaving the base and are barred from drinking alcohol.
This two-day pause will be followed by a 30-day curfew for military personnel, which has been dubbed a Period of Reflection. The measures come as the arrest of the Marine provokes impassioned protest and leads to a reckoning with the U.S. military presence in Japan.
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja has demanded that the central government do more to ensure discipline among U.S. troops on the southern island. Governor Koja noted that Okinawa has requested preventive measures every time similar crimes were repeated in the past.
The presence of US forces has repeatedly stirred resentment among residents in Okinawa over issues such as aircraft crashes, noise, and the conduct of troops. These tensions arise at a time when the two countries are seeking to bolster security in the region.