Okinawa Governor and Naha Mayor Elections Held Amid Local Political Tensions

Incumbent governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture is seeking re‑election while downplaying party backing, as the unresolved Henoko relocation dispute continues to cast a shadow over the campaign. His main challenger, former Naha deputy mayor Genta Furusha, is supported by the Liberal Democratic Party.

In Naha, incumbent mayor Kiyoshi Chinen (known as Chinen Kaku) has received endorsements from the Social Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party as he runs for a second term. Both elections are occurring against a backdrop of ongoing controversy over U.S. military base relocations in the prefecture.