LDP backed Genta Koja wins Okinawa gubernatorial election

Genta Koja, a candidate backed by Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and other conservative groups, has won the Okinawa gubernatorial election. Koja, 42, defeated the incumbent Governor Denny Tamaki. This victory marks the first time in 12 years that Okinawa has elected a governor who supports the central government's plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko. Koja is also the first governor born after Okinawa's 1972 return to Japanese sovereignty.

According to reports, the election saw a voter turnout of 61.57 percent. While the relocation of the U.S. base has historically been the primary point of contention, some analysis suggests that voters shifted their focus toward economic policies, including income, inflation, and childcare. This shift occurred as the prefecture's legal battles to stop the Henoko construction had largely been exhausted by 2025.

Outlets with a center lean framed the victory as a solidification of the national government's power base. In contrast, a center left outlet emphasized the historical significance of Koja being the first governor born after the return to Japan and highlighted the transition of voter priorities from base opposition to daily living costs.