Tokyo Wary of Implications of Onaga’s Death for Okinawa Election

August 10, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party have grown worried about the possible implications of Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga's death from cancer on Wednesday for the forthcoming election to pick his successor.

The gubernatorial election in Okinawa Prefecture was to be held on Nov. 18, in line with the expiration of Onaga's four-year term. But the polling date will be moved up because the successor should be elected within 50 days of a notification of the governor's death to the prefectural election board.

The government and the LDP are concerned that, in tribute to the late governor, anti-U.S. base Okinawans could fight even harder against an LDP-backed candidate in the gubernatorial race. "It could be an extremely difficult election," an LDP member said.

Onaga has led opposition to the construction, agreed between the Japanese and U.S. governments, of a replacement facility in the Henoko coastal district in Nago for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base in Ginowan, both in the southern prefecture hosting the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.

Onaga, who was backed by the so-called "all-Okinawa" camp in the 2014 governor race, did not made clear whether he would seek another term.

A day after his demise, the antibase camp, including the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, held a meeting in the prefectural capital of Naha and agreed to select promptly its candidate who "will follow Onaga's will."

Possible candidates include Vice Governor Kiichiro Jahana, Naha Mayor Mikiko Shiroma and House of Councillors lawmaker Keiko Itokazu.

"It's our duty to win the governorship election and keep alive his will of blocking the U.S. base construction in Henoko," Akira Koike, head of the JCP secretariat, said on Wednesday.

The LDP's local chapter in Okinawa has already picked Atsushi Sakima, currently Ginowan mayor, as its candidate in the election. In prelude to the poll, the LDP's candidate won a Nago mayoral election in February.

Aiming to proceed with the Henoko base project, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to fully support Sakima.

However, the gubernatorial election is now likely to be rescheduled for Sept. 23 or 30, near the anticipated Sept. 20 leadership poll of the LDP, in which Abe will try to win a third term as party president and stay on as prime minister, making it difficult for the party to concentrate on the governor's race.

The LDP has begun to adjust its strategy for the Okinawa election. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is considering cutting short or canceling his planned visit to Hokkaido from Aug. 20. LDP Secretary-General Yoshihiro Nikai visited Okinawa on Thursday as the party's prefectural chapter held an emergency meeting attended by Sakima. Jiji Press