Nago mayoral election campaign over new U.S. base kicks off

Japan Press Weekly

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

Nago mayoral election campaign over new U.S. base kicks off

A Nago City mayor’s election campaign kicked off on January 17 (poll on Jan.24) with a focus on the construction of a new U.S. military base in order to supposedly facilitate transfer of the U.S. Futenma base within Okinawa.

The election is a one-on-one fight between Inamine Susumu who opposes the new base construction (recommended by the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, and the Social Mass Party) and incumbent Shimabukuro Yoshikazu (supported by the Liberal Democratic Party) who supports the construction of a new base.

In his kick-off speech to an audience of about 500 supporters, Inamine declared that he will not allow the base construction on the sea off the Henoko district of Nago City and called for an end to the 13-year-long pending issue by voters giving a clear NO to a new base in the mayoral election.

Inamine also called for an end to a local economy dependent on military bases and a turn-about to an independent and sustainable development policy through economic promotional measures directly favoring small businesses and local people’s living conditions.

- Akahata, January 18, 2010