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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

In mayoral election, Nago citizens oppose new U.S. base in shallow waters

The mayoral election was held on January 22 in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, where the Japanese and U.S. government plan to construct a new U.S. Marine Corps base on the shoreline near U.S. Camp Schwab.

Candidate Gakiya Munehiro, opponent of the new base plan, lost to a candidate backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

Backed by the Japanese Communist, Okinawa Social Mass, Social Democratic, and Democratic parties, he received 11,029 votes (34 percent).

Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe Shinzo welcomed Shimabukuro Yoshikazu's election, saying, "We take the election result as a 'yes' vote for the plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan."

Shimabukuro is regarded as successor to former Mayor Kishimoto Tateo but has expressed opposition to the plan to construct a U.S. air base on the shoreline of the city. In fact, the main feature of the mayoral election this time was that all three candidates called for opposition to the base construction plan.

Shimabukuro has said he may accept a new base on certain conditions. The local newspaper Okinawa Times on January 23 reported, "Citizens are firmly opposed to the construction of a base on the shoreline, and the election result will not easily lead to accepting that plan." In an exit poll taken by the Asahi, 79 percent of respondents said they were opposed to the plan to construct a new base in the Henoko district of the city.

In an interview after the election, Shimabukuro said, "I will continue to oppose the shoreline plan through consultation with local citizens, the Okinawa governor and the outgoing mayor." If he changes his mind to accept the plan in exchange for economic development programs offered as incentives by the central government, he will have to face strong criticism from citizens.

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Okinawa Governor Inamine Keiichi held talks with Defense Agency Director General Nukaga Fukushiro on January 23 in Tokyo to reconfirm his opposition to a new U.S. base to be built in shallow waters to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps air facility currently located at Futenma in Ginowan City, Okinawa.
- Akahata, January 24, 2006