The incumbent wins a third term in the Nago Mayoral Election, noting, “The power I received from Komeito in its coalition with the LDP was huge!”, while in a reversal for the House of Representatives Election, Komeito will back the Centrist Reform candidate. (27ja26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Great Bougainvillea, roadside Uruma, 26ja26.


With ballots opened on 25 January in the mayoral election in Okinawa Prefecture’s Nago City, the relocation destination of the US Military Futenma Airfield, the prefectural headquarters of the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito achieved a huge plurality to give a third term to their nominated candidate.


But in the House of Representatives Election promulgated on 27 January, Komeito, overturning its former stance, will join the Constitutional Democratic Party in the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance to support candidates.

 

In response to queries for Yomiuri Shimbun coverage near daybreak on 26 January in Nago City after his victory, Taketoyo Toguchi (64) noted, “Even after the formation of the new party, the power I received from Komeito in its coalition with the LDP was huge!


Mayor Toguchi has expressed neither agreement nor disagreement on the Henoko relocation. Yet, besides the LDP, his discrete stance on the relocation also got him the nomination of Komeito. Thus he achieved his victory over the rookie candidate nominated by the forces of All Okinawa, composed of Governor Denny Tamaki and others against the relocation.

　

But it was a severe defeat for All Okinawa and others facing the House of Representatives and gubernatorial elections.


On 26 January, Governor Tamaki answered queries on the record from the press squad at the Prefectural Office. He responded, “I sincerely accept the result. However, in both the House and gubernatorial elections, depending on the points of contention, the direction of the votes can’t help but change.”


Komeito Headquarters Representative Akira Uehara, at a press conference on the same day, mentioned his party’s support for Centrist Reform Alliance candidates, noting, “Although there is shock and confusion among some of our supporters,  I request their understanding that we’re going to come out winning!”


Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun, published Monday 26 January 2026 at 13:30.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2d3717001541b918083ca3bb390a387bfdb03bf4


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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