Candidate Tolerant of Futenma Transfer Wins Okinawa Governor Poll

Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, September 13 (Jiji Press) - Genta Koja secured victory in the Okinawa gubernatorial election on Sunday, indicating that the southernmost Japanese prefecture will have its first leader amenable to relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma air station within Okinawa territory in twelve years. Koja, a 42-year-old former Naha deputy mayor backed by conservative forces such as Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, triumphed over incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki, who sought a third term alongside four other contenders.

The contest essentially boiled down to a showdown between Koja and Tamaki. Koja will be the youngest Okinawa governor in history, born after Okinawa's return to Japanese sovereignty from U.S. occupation in 1972. He will assume office on September 30 for a four-year term. The prefectural administration in Okinawa, historically characterized by intense clashes between conservative and reformist factions mainly over the relocation of the Futenma base, currently situated in Ginowan city to Henoko coastal district in Nago city, may be undergoing a transformation following Koja's remarkable win.

During a press conference in Naha on Sunday night, Koja expressed his intention to progress Okinawa while honoring Tamaki's administration.