S/ Koja Genta, Okinawa Governor-elect / I want to promptly begin focusing on areas such as the most pressing issues involving people’s daily lives and rising prices as well as developing new industries and providing child-rearing support, including measures to address child poverty.

Newcomer Koja Genta, endorsed by six political parties including the Liberal Democratic Party, won the Okinawa gubernatorial election on September 13 in a landslide against incumbent Tamaki Denny and four other candidates.

Tamaki suffered a crushing defeat in his bid for a third term as Okinawa governor.

S/ Tamaki Denny, Outgoing Okinawa Governor / If this is the outcome of politics, we must accept it as the will of the people.

Okinawa is set to shift from a prefectural government that opposed the relocation of the US military’s Futenma base to Henoko for 12 years to one that accepts it, marking a major turning point in the issue.

Voter turnout was 61.57 percent, up 3.65 percentage points from the previous gubernatorial election.

In Tokyo on September 14, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made remarks to reporters about Koja’s election victory.

S/ Takaichi Sanae, Prime Minister / I believe this election reflected the will of Okinawa residents who seek economic growth. I intend to do my utmost to strengthen Okinawa’s economy by working closely with the new governor. As for other issues, we will continue to address them while carefully listening to the views of the new governor.