LDP-backed Genta Koja wins Okinawa gubernatorial election

Genta Koja, the Liberal Democratic Party-backed candidate for Okinawa’s gubernatorial election, defeated incumbent Gov. Denny Tamaki on Sunday, in a poll likely to have national reverberations.

Media reports, including by NHK, citing exit polls said Koja had bested Tamaki, who had been vying for a third term.

The results are expected to affect the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who had thrown her support behind Koja.

Apart from the LDP, the parties that endorsed Koja were the Japan Innovation Party, Democratic Party for the People, Sanseito and the Conservative Party of Japan, as well as the Okinawa prefectural chapter of Komeito.

Tamaki received support from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party.

The main issues in the race were the proposed relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, located in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to Henoko in Nago, as well as efforts to promote the prefecture’s economy.

Four other first-time candidates also ran in the election: Shun Kaneshima, 48, a company president; Masahiro Sueyoshi, 73, chairman of a medical corporation; Takashi Higa, 49, a company representative; and Chosuke Yara, 74, head of a political organization.