Tetsuya Higa dies, former mayor of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture

Tetsuya Higa (former mayor of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture) passed away at his home in Nago City due to old age at 11:44 pm on the 6th, at the age of 99. Born in the same city. The funeral service will be held from 2:00 pm on the 11th at the Nago City Funeral Hall, 20-16, Onishi 4, Nago City. The chief mourner was his adopted daughter Mari.

He was first elected mayor in 1986. In 1996, midway through his third term, with the return of the U.S. military's Futenma Air Base (Ginowan City), Camp Schwab off the coast of Nago City was listed as a candidate site for relocating an offshore helipad, and he suppressed the voices of opposition and announced his acceptance of the study.

A referendum was held in Nago City in December 1997 regarding the construction of an offshore helipad, with the majority voting against it, but three days later he visited the Prime Minister's official residence. After informing then-Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto of his intention to accept the construction despite the voting results, he told the press, ``I will accept it as the city's top official and end my political career,'' paving the way for its relocation before resigning.