Ryukyu Shimpo and others conduct an opinion survey on the opening round of the Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election: Tamaki leading, Sakima next, and Shimoji sluggishly behind. (29au22)


Splendor of Okinawa: Purple heart, roadside Uruma, 29au22


The Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election, with ballots to be opened on 11 September, was promulgated on 25 August.


In response, Ryukyu Shimpo joined with Okinawa TV and JX Communications, and the 3 media companies conducted a telephone opinion survey between 26 and 28 August on eligible voters across the prefecture to grasp the situation in the opening stage of the election campaign.


From the standpoint of this paper’s coverage, the survey produced the following results. Current Governor Denny Tamaki (62), running as an independent, is the front runner, with backing from the Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Masses Party, Ninufa-bushi (North Star) Party, and Reiwa (Orderly Peace) Party. Next, also running as an independent, but with backing from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, is former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima (58). Former House of Councilors Member Mikio Shimoji (61) is lagging behind at third.


However, there are a number of voters who will remain undecided until they cast their votes. Moreover, the regional elections and such to be held the same day have yet to be proclaimed. So, what develops from now remains fluid. Interest is high among voters in this election, as demonstrated in their agreement of over 91.1% to the statements “I will certainly vote” or “I will probably vote.”


By region, Tamaki is the front runner everywhere. Sakima has ended up following him in the race. Sakima seems to be targeting Yaeyama, the center of Okinawa Island, and elsewhere where his support is relatively high. Shimoji has a fixed base of support in the Miyako area among others.


As for party support, 70% of LDP and Komeito adherents support Sakima. Tamaki can count on  over 90% from the Communist and Reiwa parties, and another over 80% from the Constitutional Democratic Party. A large number of the Renovation and Nationalist party members tend toward Shimoji. 


As for independents, Tamaki holds their overwhelming support. Sakima and Shimoji trail along behind. Now, just before the vote, a few less than 20% answered, “I haven’t yet decided“ or “I don’t understand.” Widening support among independents from now could turn the situation either way. When asked about which government policies were most important, the  “base problem” or “economics, business atmosphere, and employment,”  opinions were contested at a bit less than 40% on each side.


This will be the first experience of holding regional elections on the same day as the gubernatorial election. 4 municipalities will elect their mayors, 24 municipalities their local assembly members, and there will be 2 by-elections for Prefectural Assembly members, one for Naha and one for the Southern Outer Island District. Each candidate has been developing their campaign strategy taking the gubernatorial and local elections as a set.


There may well be a major shift in the political situation after September.

　

Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Monday 29 August 2022 at 08:14. Byline: ‘22 Gubernatorial Election Coverage Squad.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/79d1f7788577a143d221da50625b75e340dd047c


Denny in the News: news about 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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