Lawmakers in Okinawa adopted a resolution last month calling for revisions to the pact, which will soon be submitted to the US embassy.
“After every incident or accident involving US military service members or civilian employees, Okinawa has repeatedly lodged strong protest with the US military and the governments of both Japan and the United States,” Koja told a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
The alleged murder “was an extremely heinous crime that has caused great anxiety amongst residents of Okinawa”, he said.
Koja, who was elected governor in September, is the first Okinawa leader in 12 years who has approved of a contentious US military base relocation plan.
The central government’s plan is to keep the US Marine Corps’ Futenma air base on Okinawa’s main island, but move it to a less populated location.
Koja said on Monday he would seek the “swift return” of lands used by the US military in Okinawa’s commercial centre under a 2013 agreement, which he said will help boost the local economy.
The review of the pact should include “prompt compliance with requests from the Japanese side to transfer suspects in detention prior to indictment and adoption of Japanese laws such as the aviation act to the US military”, he said.
Japan and the United States agreed on Friday to measures aimed at preventing crimes by US service members on Okinawa, including holding talks on community relations and Japan’s legal system.
US officials also said on Friday they would extend for some service members a 30-day curfew imposed after the woman’s murder to Dec 7.
