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

Progressive candidate elected as Okinawa City mayor

In the mayoral election in Okinawa City on April 23, Tomon Mitsuko, who is supported by five parties, including the Japanese Communist, Social Democratic, Okinawa Social Mass, and Democratic parties won, beating a candidate that the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties supported.

Her victory represents Okinawa City residents' rejection of the burdens of the U.S. military bases being imposed on the city. This will give momentum to the movement against the U.S. military realignment and will affect the outcome of the Okinawa gubernatorial election scheduled for autumn.

The JCP worked hard for Tomon's victory as she concluded an agreement with the JCP that she will oppose the strengthening of the functions of U.S. bases under the U.S. military realignment plan, strive to reduce and eventually remove the bases, and continue to be an independent.

After the election Tomon told Akahata as follows:

"This is a victory of the citizens. I'm very glad to have had my appeal heard by them.

The final report on the U.S. military realignment will be finalized in early May, but I cannot approve of the agreement even though they say it is a national policy.

The government has repeatedly told us that it would listen to local opinions, but as shown in the new plan (to construct a new U.S. base with two runways on the shoreline in Nago City), it actually pushes ahead with the plan in complete disregard of local residents. As the mayor of Okinawa City with a population of 130,000, I will speak out against the way the Japanese and U.S. governments are doing things.

With regard to the U.S. Kadena Air Base, the government is planning to relocate U.S. F-15 fighter exercises from there, but at the same time they push forward Japan-U.S. military integration. Though U.S. F-15 fighters will leave, Japanese Self-Defense Force F-15 fighters may come instead. This will lead to a strengthening of the functions of the base.

In Iwakuni City, a candidate opposing the U.S. military realignment scheme was elected mayor. The result, I think, represents public criticism against the central government forcing the local community to bear the long-term burden of the base (U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station). I wish to work together with Iwakuni City and other base-hosting municipalities.

With strenuous efforts of the five political parties, trade unions, and women's groups wishing to have a woman mayor for the first time in Okinawa Prefecture, our voice has reached the residents. This is literally a victory for the residents."
- Akahata April 24 and 25, 2006