Regarding an electoral split in Okinawa District 2 of the House of Representatives, Okinawa Governor Tamaki warns, “All Okinawa must not go so far as dissolution!” (21ja26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Golden Dewdrop, roadside Uruma, 17ja25.


On 19 January, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki spoke on the candidate selection for the Okinawa District 2 House of Representatives Election.


The governor brought up the selection, pointing out a fracture over the election among the forces of All Okinawa, which had been united in their opposition to the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both within Okinawa Prefecture.


The governor expressed his consideration, noting, “When allies are considering a breakup, I have to think it will end up being an especially harsh election.”


In the House of Representatives Okinawa Election District 2, House of Representatives Member Kunio Arakaki, currently unaffiliated after bolting from the Socialist Party last year, is considering running as the nominated candidate of the Centrist Reform Alliance, newly established by the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito.


However, supporters of the Prefectural Socialist Party Alliance are maneuvering to select former House Member Chobin Zukeran as their candidate. If Mr. Zukeran becomes their nominated candidate, it is anticipated that the forces of All Okinawa will be unable to avoid a split.


Governor Tamaki stressed, “I feel that even a split in All Okinawa must not go so far as its dissolution. The very meaning of All Okinawa is to be an organization,  strong because of its adaptability. A certain amount of flexibility ought to be available in any organization. For All Okinawa, this election will be one of its turning points.


Original Japanese article: Sankei Shimbun, published Monday 19 January 2026 at 20:27.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cfb1a7ba624b8619bcc94f55634d40f04c5ed006


Denny in the News: Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although 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. 


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. 


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


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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