Japan and the United States will expand community education and create a new orientation program for American military personnel following the indictment of a Marine in the suspected robbery and murder of an Okinawa woman.

The changes follow the early October killing and subsequent arrest, which intensified concerns about the large American troop presence on Okinawa. Officials from both countries have continued meeting while announcing measures intended to prevent another incident.

During a Friday press conference, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Japan would “expand and enrich” education for U.S. military personnel stationed on Okinawa. Okinawa Governor Genta Koja had also requested broader education efforts.

“I expressed that we are gravely receiving the burden felt by the Okinawa people regarding hosting military bases, and we at the national government tried to reduce the burden of the local community,” Motegi said while discussing the previous week’s Okinawa Policy Council meeting.

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“Based upon this, upon the [Koja] request received today, we will continue to reduce the Okinawa burden, and we will make determined efforts as follows,” Motegi continued.

Japanese authorities last month arrested Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard. Ballard is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force, which is headquartered at Camp Courtney in Okinawa.

Ballard was arrested in connection with the suspected robbery and murder of Anna Yagi, a Naha resident who was 39. Japanese prosecutors recently indicted him, alleging that he strangled Yagi with a phone cord inside a city hotel.

Prosecutors also allege that Ballard stole Yagi’s backpack, which contained her wallet and other belongings. An investigation of her body determined that she died from suffocation.

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Hotel security footage shows a person with hair and tattoos resembling Ballard’s entering a hotel room with a woman. The person was later recorded leaving the room with items.

The arrest and indictment prompted U.S. officials to stop all military operations for two days for a Period of Training. That was followed by a Period of Reflection, which concluded Sunday.

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Additional restrictions took effect when the reflection period ended. Those measures extended a curfew for junior enlisted personnel and further prohibited all service members from consuming alcohol after a designated time.

Motegi said the two countries will update materials used for the Okinawa Orientation Overview. The mandatory briefing is provided to newly arrived American military personnel, and the revised materials will incorporate input from the Okinawa Prefecture Government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ambassador for Okinawa affairs and the prefectural police will also provide briefings at an “early date.” Those briefings are intended to reinforce the importance of local community support for the U.S. military presence and improve understanding of Japan’s legal system.

Japan and the United States plan to launch another program during the next fiscal year. It will help American military personnel better understand how “Okinawa’s cultural history ties with the local community to become good neighbors.”

The countries will also expand the areas and frequency of joint police patrols, according to Motegi. The orientation changes, community education and expanded patrols form part of the measures announced while officials continue discussing prevention.

Koja said during a Monday press conference that he would seek a “fundamental review” of the Status of Forces Agreement, known as SOFA. The 1960 bilateral agreement outlines obligations for U.S. military personnel and their dependents in Japan.

“In the wake of every incident or accident involving U.S. military service members or civilian employees, Okinawa has repeatedly lodged strong protests with the U.S. military and with the government of both Japan and the United States,” Koja said.

“We have strongly urged them to take effective and fundamental measures, including a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. However, we have yet to see meaningful improvement,” Koja continued.

Koja argued that previous actions were insufficient and that changes leaving decisions to U.S. discretion would be inadequate. He wants revisions requiring the United States to promptly comply with Japanese requests to transfer suspects into custody.

The governor also called for provisions allowing Japanese officials to test for environmental contamination on U.S. bases. His demands go beyond the orientation updates, patrol expansions and restrictions already announced after Ballard’s arrest and indictment.

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