The Okinawa Gubernatorial Election will be a face-off between Governor Denny Tamaki and Genta Koja, with ballots to be opened on 13 September. (27Ap26).

Splendor of Okinawa: Jasmine, roadside Uruma, 26ap26

On 25 April, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki (66) 7, eying a third term, formally declared his candidacy for the gubernatorial election, occasioned by the end of his term, with votes to be opened on 13 September.

　

In this gubernatorial election, the Liberal Democratic Party, out of power in the Prefectural Administration for 12 years, is seeking to recapture power with a plan to give its total support to former Naha Deputy Mayor Genta Koja (42), who has already declared his run. The election is expected to be a truly epic face off between Tamaki and Koja.


In Okinawa, the reinforcement of capacity of the Self Defense Forces (SDF) is continuing, as the National Government proceeds with its Southwest Shift (trans. note: toward the Ryukyus) in Defence capabilities.


The response to the National Government’s Security Treaty measures, including the US base issues, are expected to become points of contention in the election.


At a press conference convened in Naha on 25 April, Governor Tamaki criticized the Southwest Shift, noting, “There has not been enough local discussion on it. Preparations for the expansion have been slipshod with gradual erosion.”


On the relocation of Ginowan’s US Military Futenma Airfield, the governor once again showed his firm stance in opposition, noting, “I will not link Henoko to getting rid of Futenma without a moment’s delay!”


Governor Tamaki, who is running as an independent, nonetheless receives support from the forces of All Okinawa, made up of the Communist Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and others.


On the other hand, Candidate Koja shows an understanding of the National Government’s promotion of the Security Treaty. So, on 25 April, Candidate Koja attended an LDP Okinawa Branch rally in Naha. There he stated, “I’d like to bring about the realization of administrative policies that make full use of personal networks.”


On the same day, LDP Okinawa Election Policy Chief Yasutoshi Nishimura stood to greet Mr. Koja on his request for the party’s sponsorship. He stressed, “Speaking for the party headquarters, we’d like to make preparations for giving you our support.”


In the last two recent gubernatorial elections, LDP and Komeito supported candidates had fought it out with a candidate  backed by the forces of All Okinawa


However, after defecting from the coalition government, sources in the Komeito prefectural headquarters claim, “We’re not going to support Governor Tamaki this time.” However, other voices supporting Komeito, upset over the Takaichi Administration, noted, “We’re unlikely to back Koja either”. So, the party is considering responses,  including leaving the vote to the individual.


Original Japanese article: Yomiuri Shimbun, published Sunday 26 April 2026 at 14:36.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2eaea710caaeeb747ffffe12cd278c38aba91cca


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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