Election in Angers

With beautiful blue ocean and untouched nature, the city of Nago, Okinawa, is well known resort through all seasons. This city is receiving national wide attention. Mayoral election of the city can be a showdown over the long time argument over the relocation of Futenma Marine Air Base. A former prefectural assembly member, Bunshin Suematsu, ran for accepting the base in Henoko coast in Nago city, challenging incumbent mayor, Susumu Inamine, who is a firm opponent against the relocation plan agreed between Japan and the United States. Voting day is next Sunday.

Most people in the city do not want the base in Henoko. After former Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, sought another option for removing the base from Okinawa, which resulted in a miserable failure, people in Okinawa realized that the government of Japan had not been serious about finding alternative place for the relocation. Inamine has been one of the top runners in the movement against the relocation within Okinawa.

The government, namely current Abe administration, has been oppressive against the movement. Offering early return of Futenma and certain amount of subsidies for the development of Okinawa, the administration consistently asked the Governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima, a permission of landfill construction in Henoko, a process in which the governor has power to deny. After Nakaima’s approval last month, the administration cooperating with leading Liberal Democratic Party raised Suematsu as an integrated candidate of groups positive on current relocation plan.

This is the fifth mayoral election after the governments picked Henoko as the place for the moving, and will be the most competitive race between the positive and negative on it. Polls showed firm strength of protesters, still superior to the positives. For Liberal Democrats, it is crucial to get support from voters with New Komeito, the coalition partner in national politics. However, the local organization of New Komeito is against relocation to Henoko, protesting the policy of party headquarters. The local branch decided free vote of each party member.

If Inamine wins, the plan will again have to face negative opinions that want the base out of Okinawa. The mayor can be able to reject transportation of vehicles for the construction. It may cause a delay of building process of new facilities in Henoko coast. Even if Suematsu wins, broad resentment in Okinawa will disturb the process of relocation. The anger of Okinawa people drove local congress members to the extent of resolving a request of Nakaima’s resignation, accusing the approval of construction. Vision for settling the Okinawa base issue is still unclear.