Genta Koja wins Okinawa gubernatorial election

Genta Koja, a 42-year-old newcomer and former deputy mayor of Naha, has secured victory in the Okinawa gubernatorial election, defeating incumbent Denny Tamaki. Koja is the youngest governor in the prefecture's history since Okinawa's reversion to Japan and is the first governor born after that reversion.

Koja received endorsements from several major political groups, including the Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and the Democratic Party for the People. His platform focused on economic revitalization, improving low prefectural income, and supporting childcare and tourism.

A critical issue in the election was the relocation of the U.S. Futenma Air Base to Henoko in Nago City. Unlike the incumbent Tamaki, who opposed the move, Koja supports the relocation while calling on the Japanese and U.S. governments to expedite the return of other military facilities. This victory marks a significant shift in Okinawa's political landscape, ending the era of the 'All Okinawa' administration that had been in power for 12 years.