Concern that the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases may be a direct hit that can influence the Nago Mayoral election, with only 1 week until its announcement, as well as the Kishida government. (9ja22)

The sudden surge of Covid-19 cases in Okinawa are said to be a direct hit on the coming Nago mayoral election, to be announced on 16 January. As Okinawa’s “election year” first battle, which will continue the important watershed struggle for the opposition parties as well in the fall gubernatorial election, the campaign headquarters are watching over their support rhetoric for votes. For the governing party (LDP), there are concerns over the influence of the surge on the relocation of the US MIlitary Futenma Airfield from Ginowan to Henoko in Nago.


The mayoral election looks to be a two way battle between the incumbent Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi (60), nominated by the ruling party (LDP), and newcomer City Assemblyman Yohei Iwamoto, supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and Governor Denny Tamaki. Ballots will be opened on 23 January. In contrast to Kishimoto, who lauds his opposition to the relocation, Toguchi is taking the strategy of avoiding the point of contention by not making clear whether he opposes it or not.


The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) sees the situation as hotly contested. Following a visit in November of last year, LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi planned to be on-site for the Toguchi’s general rally on 12 January and the widely known Director of Headquarters Public Relations Taro Kono, with experience as Cabinet Minister for Okinawa, intended to give street corner speeches on 9 January, but each of them cancelled on reports of the reemergence of widespread contagion.



For the ruling party, this year has become a close game in a crucial Okinawan election. In the national House of Representatives election last fall, the LDP recaptured a seat in Okinawa District 3, which includes Nago.

A win in the mayoral election could give momentum to the LDP in the summer House of Councilors elections in the Okinawa electoral district as well as in the gubernatorial election.


 The LDP thought that the relocation issue could be used profitably. But then, the surge of infections in Okinawa triggered by the lax response of the US Military occurred. On 6 January, Governor Tamaki offered this criticism to the press corps, “US Military bases are the basic cause!”


National Government related sources point out, “Concerns about the base problem are further heightening.” At LDP Headquarters, everyone is thinking, “What is the US Military up to?” Leakers say, “The mayoral election will become very tight, if it’s tied up with relocation.”


On the other side of the fray, Constitutional Democratic Party Policy Research Committee Chairman Junya Ogawa attended last month’s prefectural chapter's extraordinary mass session. On 5 January Secretary General of the Communist Party visited Kishimoto’s campaign headquarters to offer him encouragement and furthermore plans to consider support later. At a press conference on 7 January, Constitutional Democratic Party Representative Kenta Izumi strongly stressed the need for a revision of the Japan US Status of Forces Agreement, adding, “I’m pleading that the lives and health of the prefecture’s people must be protected!”

 

Original Japanese article: Jiji Press, published Sunday 9 January 2022

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f702d947f1cab114fd9d803ea6d99e250018fb70


Translator’s note:

Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 

  2. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  3. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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