LDP-backed Koja has slight lead over incumbent Tamaki in Okinawa gubernatorial vote

Okinawa gubernatorial candidates Genta Koja (left) and incumbent Denny Tamaki during separate stump speeches on Monday in the city of Okinawa and Naha in Okinawa Prefecture | AFLO

Sep 11, 2026

Genta Koja, the Liberal Democratic Party-backed candidate for Okinawa’s gubernatorial election, appears to have a slight lead over incumbent Gov. Denny Tamaki ahead of Sunday’s vote, although the race remains tight, according to media polls.

Its outcome could have an impact on both Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, which is heavily supporting the conservative newcomer, and the relocation of a U.S. military base in the prefecture. The latter could in turn affect Japan’s relations with the United States.

The election is also seen as a referendum on the leadership of Tamaki, 66, who ran on a platform opposing the construction of a U.S. Marine Corps base on reclaimed land off the Henoko district, in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, in the elections of 2018 and 2022.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.