1-month curfew for US Marines in Okinawa following alleged murder

The US military in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa will impose a curfew from midnight to 5am for one month starting Friday following the arrest of a Marine on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman, its Okinawa area coordinator has said.

All US military personnel in Okinawa will also observe a 48-hour operational pause from noon Wednesday, during which there will be "no off-base liberty, including a complete prohibition of alcohol consumption on or off base," Okinawa area coordinator of US Forces Japan Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson said Tuesday.

The announcement came after local police arrested Devin Ballard, a 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa, on suspicion of robbing and murdering Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha on Saturday.

The incident adds fuel to the continious concerns of American marine presence in Okinawa, with more than 150 residents rallying to show concern following Yagi’s death.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed concern and has asked for American authorities for their full cooperation in the investigation.