Voters' priorities shifted in Okinawa governor race from US base issue to economy

Okinawa has elected its first governor in twelve years who supports the relocation of a contentious US military base, according to a recent vote. Genta Koja, a candidate backed by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling party, secured a decisive victory in the gubernatorial election. Koja, 42, took office with the backing of a central government plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma air base from Okinawa’s main island to a less populated area.

In contrast, incumbent Denny Tamaki, who had long advocated for the base’s relocation, lost the election. Koja’s campaign focused on economic growth, pledging to double Okinawa’s average income, bolster the local government budget for childcare, and increase tourist spending on the island. Tamaki, 66, had campaigned to remove the base altogether.

Takaichi, the ruling party leader, expressed her commitment to strengthening Okinawa’s economy alongside the new governor. The US military presence on Okinawa, which numbers around 54,000 personnel, has been a source of tension for locals due to incidents such as sexual assaults, pollution, noise, and helicopter crashes. The base relocation issue was first addressed in 1996, following a high-profile rape case, and was approved in 2013, but Tamaki’s opposition to the move led to his defeat.