Three-way Fight in Nago

The situation around relocation of Futenma Marine Air Base is getting complicated as mayoral election of the City of Nago, Okinawa, next January is coming close. While public opinion for accepting alternative facilities of the base in Henoko district of the city is evenly divided, three potential candidates are expected to run. How voters are showing their attitude on this issue may have significant impact on the future of Japan and United States relationship.

Running incumbent Mayor, Susumu Inamine, has been strongly against accepting new runways, which will be the alternative for Futenma. Rejecting the relocation plan was his campaign promise in last election in 2010, right after former Prime Miniser, Yukio Hatoyama, took the seat and sought removing Futenma from Okinwa. Before Inamine was elected, the Mayor of Nago has been cooperative with the relocation plan fixed by governments both of Japan and U.S. But, with new option presented by Hatoyama, people in Nago raised new mayor for rejection.

Against Inamine, two men stood up for accepting the plan. Former Vice-mayor, Bunshin Suematsu, announced his bid for the election last month. While he basically stands for moving the base out of Okinawa, if possible, the Henoko option would be one of the options, if the base must be remained in Okinawa. Few days after Suematsu’s announcement, former Mayor, Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, joined the race, appealing more positive attitude for having the facilities in Nago. Now, the votes for pro-Henoko are expected to be divided between Suematsu and Shimabukuro.

The key person is the Governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima. Although Nakaima had been pro-Henoko, he changed his standpoint in his reelection campaign in 2010, after the national government and Nago city shifted to move the base out of Okinawa. In the campaign of Nago mayoral election this time, Nakaima supports Suematsu. It is still a contradiction for Nakaima to support Suematsu, simply because the attitude on Futenma relocation is different.

The administration led by Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, expects Nakaima’a announcement to accept the alternative facilities in Henoko before the end of this year, to make a momentum for pro-Henoko side in the Nago election. Even if it happens, integration of two candidates into one should be necessary for winning. In the situation that all local government in Okinawa had passed resolutions to remove Futenma, it is not easy to shift the direction of the base issue there.