A candidate supported by Japan’s national government has won the Okinawa gubernatorial election, ending 12 years of leadership by governors opposed to the prefecture’s extensive US military presence.
Genta Koja, 42, defeated two-term incumbent Denny Tamaki, 66, with 59% of the vote, according to results announced early on Monday, September 14.
Koja was supported by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government. Although rising prices and other economic concerns dominated much of the campaign, the result could significantly affect Japan’s defence policy and military alliance with the United States.
Okinawa hosts a substantial concentration of American military facilities despite accounting for a small proportion of Japan’s territory. The bases have generated longstanding opposition over noise, safety, environmental damage and crimes involving military personnel.
Tamaki continued efforts by earlier Okinawan administrations to challenge the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Tokyo and Washington plan to transfer operations from the densely populated city of Ginowan to a new facility at Henoko.
Opponents argue that relocating the base within Okinawa does not sufficiently reduce the prefecture’s military burden. Koja’s victory could make it easier for the national government to advance the project and negotiate military access to civilian airports and ports.
The result comes as Japan prepares a new national-security strategy expected to accelerate its largest military expansion since the Second World War.
Okinawa’s strategic importance has increased because of its proximity to Taiwan and China. Yonaguni, Okinawa’s westernmost inhabited island, is approximately 110 kilometres from Taiwan.
Koja’s election does not itself authorise new deployments or complete the Futenma relocation. Individual projects will still require administrative action, while opposition to the US military presence is expected to continue.
