\n<\/p>\n
TOKYO — <\/span>The governor of Okinawa demanded Wednesday that Japan’s central government do more to ensure effective discipline among U.S. service members on the southern island following the arrest of a U.S. Marine on accusations that he robbed and killed<\/a> a local woman.<\/p>\n Gov. Genta Koja, in Tokyo for the first time since taking office a week ago, conveyed Okinawa’s<\/a> outrage in his meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, asking her government for further efforts to reduce the burden of hosting U.S. military bases on the small island.<\/p>\n \u201cOkinawa has requested preventive measures every time similar crimes were repeated in past, and now we have this case again,\u201d Koja told Takaichi in a guest room at the Prime Minister’s Office packed with reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cI must say past disciplinary measures and human rights education implemented by the U.S. military have not worked at all,\u201d Koja said. <\/p>\n People in Okinawa have long opposed the heavy U.S. military presence on the island and complained about noise, pollution and crime related to American bases, though some have come to see its strategic value due to what is widely viewed as a growing threat from China.<\/p>\n Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, a 20-year-old Ohio native belonging to the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel and stealing her wallet and backpack. He has denied the allegations, according to Japanese media.<\/p>\n Takaichi said she regretted the \u201cheinous crime\u201d and shared the outrage. Noting the new disciplinary measures announced by the U.S. military Tuesday, Takaichi said she expected the American government to take subsequent steps.<\/p>\n Japan and the U.S. will discuss \u201chow to implement preventive measures that are effective,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n