Newfrom Japan
Policy
Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Sep 11 (Jiji Press) — Incumbent Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki is certain to win Sunday’s gubernatorial election in Japan’s southern prefecture after voting closed at 8:00 p.m. (11:00 GMT).
Tamaki’s re-election means a continuing dispute between the prefectural government and the Japanese government over the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Base from Ginowan, Okinawa, to the coastal area of Henoko in Nago, another city from Okinawa.
Meanwhile, Tamaki is set to focus his efforts on bolstering the prefecture’s economy, which has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opposed to the relocation of the American base, Tamaki, 62, was supported by the Democratic Constitutional Party of Japan, the Japanese Communist Party, Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Social Democratic Party.
He was also backed by the “All Okinawa” camp of conservatives and liberals against relocating the base to Henoko.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
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