Okinawa gubernatorial race puts focus on economy even as security tensions loom

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki (left) and former Naha Vice Mayor Genta Koja. The gubernatorial race in Okinawa, with Tamaki as the incumbent and Koja as the challenger, is centered on economic issues but is increasingly shaped by security tensions. Six candidates are running, but the contest is expected to narrow to Tamaki and Koja, who is supported by a coalition including the Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party. Tamaki, a leader of the All Okinawa movement opposing U.S. military base relocation, seeks a third term with backing from the Constitutional Democratic Party, Japanese Communist Party, and Social Democratic Party. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions and misinformation are intensifying the campaign environment.