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A U.S. service member was detained in connection with a death of a Japanese national in Okinawa, U.S. officials said, prompting the Japanese government to lodge a protest with the United States.<\/p>\n
“We are actively cooperating with Japanese authorities, in response to allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force,” the force said in a statement<\/a> on social media. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victim\u2019s family and friends.”<\/p>\n U.S. officials did not immediately identify the service member who was arrested, nor did they say whether the person had been charged in connection with the death.<\/p>\n Sanae Takaichi, the Japanese prime minister, described the death in Naha City as an alleged robbery and murder. She confirmed that a U.S. Marine had been detained in connection with the death.<\/p>\n “The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and heinous incident is a matter of profound regret, and as the Government of Japan, we have lodged a strong protest with the U.S. side,” she said<\/a> on social media.<\/p>\n The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said it was aware of the incident and was extending “our deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased.”<\/p>\n “At present, an investigation is underway to clarify the facts, and the United States Government continues to cooperate closely with the Government of Japan and local authorities,” the embassy said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n George Glass, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said<\/a> he had spoken on Sunday morning with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Okinawa’s governor, adding that his office was providing full cooperation with an investigation into the death.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n