2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election

2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election
← 2014 30 September 2018 2022 →
Turnout63.24% Decrease0.89%[1]
 
Nominee Denny Tamaki Atsushi Sakima
Party Independent Independent
Alliance All Okinawa
Popular vote 396,632 316,458
Percentage 55.1% 43.9%
Governor before election

Takeshi Onaga
Independent

Elected Governor

Denny Tamaki
Independent

The 2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election was held on 30 September 2018 to elect the next governor of Okinawa.[2] As there are no term limits in Japan, incumbent Governor Takeshi Onaga was eligible for re-election before his death in August 2018.[3] The election was originally scheduled to be held on 9 December 2018, but this was brought forward after Onaga's untimely death. Onaga's deputy, Kiichiro Jahana temporarily assumed his post for three days until being replaced as interim governor by Moritake Tomikawa. This was the first gubernatorial election in Okinawa since the voting age was lowered to 18.

The relocation of the US air base in Ginowan to Nago was a major issue in the race.[4] The campaign period ran from 13 September until election day.[2][5]

The election was won by Denny Tamaki.[6] Tamaki, like Onaga, wants a fundamental reduction of the U.S. presence in Okinawa.[7][8]

  1. ^ "【知事選投票率速報】最終午後１１時２５分、６３・２４％". Ryūkyū Shimpō. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b Kyodo News (13 August 2018). "With U.S. Futenma base issue on the line, vote to replace late Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga set for Sept. 30". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Okinawa Governor Onaga, who led anti-U.S. base move, dies". Asahi Shimbun. Associated Press. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  4. ^ Yamashita, Ryuichi (7 November 2017). "New building work begins at site for U.S. base in Okinawa". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  5. ^ 平成30年執行沖縄県知事選挙及び沖縄県議会議員補欠選挙 (in Japanese). 沖縄県. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Denny Tamaki, critic of US bases on Okinawa, wins election". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  7. ^ Denyer, Simon (30 September 2018). "Opponent of U.S. military bases wins Okinawa gubernatorial election". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  8. ^ Yamashita, Ryuichi (30 September 2018). "Onaga successor wins Okinawa gubernatorial election". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 4 October 2018.