Japan's Okinawa Prefecture governor election: Newcomer Genta Furusha defeated the current governor Tamaki Danny and was elected

The votes for the governor election of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan were opened today. Newcomer Genta Furusha, who was recommended by six parties including the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Reform Association and the National Democratic Party, defeated the current governor Tamaki Dani and others who were seeking a third term. He was confirmed to be elected for the first time. Okinawa Prefectural Government will also usher in a change of power.

After the voting ended in the evening, NHK announced that Gushe was definitely elected based on exit polls and vote counting.

The focus of this Okinawa governor’s election is the dispute between Koshe and Tamaki. Tamaki was elected for the first time in 2018 and was successfully re-elected in 2022. This time he is seeking a third term; Gu Xie received support from political parties such as the Liberal Democratic Party, Reform, and National Democracy, and successfully challenged the current governor.

The Okinawa governor election has always been more than just a local election. Since Okinawa has concentrated most of the special facilities of the US military stationed in Japan, the US military Futenma base has been relocated to Henoko, Nago City, and the Japanese government has accelerated the defense deployment of the Nansei Islands in response to China's military activities in recent years, these are the focus of long-term political struggles between the central government and Okinawa.

Tamaki continued the line of former governor Onaga Oji and opposed the construction of a new base in Henoko, and went to court with the central government many times. Koshe's victory means the end of Tamaki's eight-year rule in the Okinawa Prefectural Government, and another major setback for the "All Okinawa" forces that have long opposed Henoko's relocation.

As the situation in the Taiwan Strait escalates and Japan continues to strengthen the defense of the Nansei Islands, after the change of power in Okinawa, how the new governor handles the Henoko base project and coordinates security policies such as Self-Defense Force deployment and outlying island defense with the central government will become the focus of follow-up observation.