Okinawa governor wins second term, demands U.S. base be moved out of prefecture

[unhappycamper]

Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, center, accepts flowers from his two daughters to celebrate his re-election on the night of Nov. 28 in Naha, Okinawa.


Okinawa governor wins second term, demands U.S. base be moved out of prefecture

NAHA -- Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who has demanded controversial U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma be moved out of the prefecture, has won the Nov. 28 gubernatorial election.

Both Nakaima, 71, and Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha, 58, campaigned on platforms calling for the removal of the U.S. Marine base, now located in a residential neighborhood of Ginowan and planned to be moved to the Henoko district of Nago, though Iha further favors a move entirely out of Japan.

"I am calling on the Japanese government to revisit the Japan-U.S. agreement (reached in May), and to move the base out of our prefecture. We shall see how the government responds," Nakaima told reporters at his election headquarters here on election night, adding, "Relocation of Futenma within the prefecture is not a foregone conclusion. It will be moved out of Okinawa."

On the morning of Nov. 29, Nakaima reiterated his determination to see the U.S. base removed, saying, "The people of Okinawa are of one heart, one mind. I will continue to ascertain the path they wish to take and work to realize it."

Nakaima had previously approved the Henoko base plan conditionally, but changed his position at a prefectural assembly meeting in September, shortly before the gubernatorial campaign began. During the campaign, however, Nakaima placed more emphasis on his expertise on economic policy than the base issue, ultimately triumphing over Iha in the closely fought election.

[msongs]

1. remove all bases from okinawa and dismantle units operating there nt