Current Governor Denny Tamaki has formally declared his intention to run in the Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election, with the “Henoko relocation” as the point of contention. (29ap26)

Splendor of Okinawa: Cattleya Orchid, roadside Uruma, 26ap26

The Okinawa Prefecture Gubernatorial Election is slated for this September. Incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki, eying a third term, has formally declared his intention to enter the field.


On 25 April in Naha, Governor Tamaki, eying a third term, firmly clarified his intention to run in the gubernatorial election, to be promulgated on 27 August, with ballots to be opened on 13 September.


Current Governor Tamaki (66) stated, “I’m Denny Tamaki, digging in my heels to give my body and soul, to the limit of my life, for the sake of our prefecture’s people, for our Okinawa’s sake!”


In the gubernatorial election, local business interests are staking their hopes on former Naha Deputy Mayor Genta Koja, whom the Liberal Democratic Party and others seem to have come around to backing, after he formally declared his run last month.


On the huge issue of contention, the relocation of the American Military Futenma Base to Henoko in Nago, Governor Tamaki is a firm “Against”, while Candidate Koja takes “Approve” as his stance.


However, last month in the offing at Henoko, 2 small boats capsized, in an accident that caused 2 fatalities. Such news could have an impact reaching to the election battle.


Elsewhere in the gubernatorial election, the representative of a political group, Takamasa Kinoshita has also formally declared his candidacy.


Original Japanese article: Japan TV News NNN, published Saturday 25 April 2026 at 18:08.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6adce1f7885298d88a294f96fc13895f13054f19


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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