With the Okinawa Gubernatorial Election ballots set for opening on 13 September, former Naha Deputy Mayor enters the race. (25mr25)

Splendor of Okinawa: Pink Knotweed, roadside Uruma, 22mr 26.

On 23 March, the Okinawa Prefecture Election Management Commission, preparing for the end of the governor’s term, set 27 August as the date for the declaration of the gubernatorial election, with ballots to be opened on 13 September.


On 23 March also, former Naha Mayor Genta Koja formally confirmed his registered candidacy for the gubernatorial race. On the topic of the relocation of the US Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, he affirmed, “I’ll give my approval”.


With Candidate Koja looking forward to support from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), this looks to be in all probability a real one-on-one battle with Governor Denny Tamaki, who opposes the relocation.


Candidate Koja held a press conference that day in Naha. 　There he pointed out that the court struggle between the Prefecture and the National Government over the relocation was totally finished, and the construction landfill at Henoko is in progress. He further claimed, “The fastest solution to remove the dangers of Futenma is its relocation!”


Original Japanese article: Kyodo Communications, published Monday 23 March 2026 at 18:39

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/a849605db8fb827ef8bcced696780f8b02fee40f


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.

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