TOKYO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government lodged protests with the United States on Sunday over a murder case allegedly involving a U.S. Marine stationed in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

Meanwhile, residents of Okinawa voiced anger, saying the presence of U.S. military bases and the Japanese government's inaction have allowed similar crimes to keep happening.

Okinawa prefectural police on Sunday arrested a U.S. Marine on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman in the early hours of Saturday at a hotel in Naha City.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a post on X on Sunday that it was "extremely regrettable" that such a brutal and heinous crime had occurred.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi summoned U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass and commander of U.S. Forces Japan Stephen Jost, respectively, to lodge strong protests, urging the U.S. military to strengthen discipline and take thorough measures to prevent similar cases.

Okinawa residents expressed their outrage over the case on Sunday, Kyodo News reported.

Shusei Arakawa, a local resident, said the presence of U.S. bases in Okinawa has led to various incidents and accidents, and that many local people have lost their lives since the U.S. military was stationed there.

"This is not Okinawa's problem. It's the Japanese government's problem," said another resident, a man in his 50s. "These cases keep happening, yet the government has failed to take measures to address them."

In Uruma City, Okinawa, residents staged a protest, holding signs with slogans such as "Make Okinawa a place where people can live in peace," according to the report. One protester expressed concern, saying, "It may happen to my kids or me. You never know."

Also on Sunday, Okinawa prefectural police arrested two U.S. service members on suspicion of drunk driving.

Crimes involving U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, including grave offenses such as murder, rape, and robbery, have long been a source of deep public concern.

Official statistics show that in 2025 alone, Okinawa prefectural police handled more than 100 criminal cases involving U.S. service members and related personnel. ■

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