September 11, 2018
On September 9, local assembly elections took place across Okinawa Prefecture. In the elections, regarded as a prelude to the gubernatorial election at the end of this month, the Japanese Communist Party obtained a total of 18 seats, maintaining its pre-election strength.
Of 25 municipal elections, the JCP fielded 20 candidates in elections in five cities, three towns, and six villages.
In the Nago City assembly election which focused on the Henoko base project, first-time candidate Yoshii Shunpei successfully secured the JCP seat.
As the election outcome is said to have influence on the coming governor race, the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties which support the pro-base city mayor sought to occupy the majority of the 26-member city assembly but obtained only 13 seats in total.
In Ginowan City hosting the U.S. Futenma base, a JCP candidate finished first by calling for the unconditional removal of the Futenma base. Newly elected Miyagi Chikara is an alumna of Futenma No.2 Elementary School where a U.S. military helicopter dropped a window onto the school yard at the end of last year.
In the Yomitan Village assembly race, one of two JCP candidates came in first and the number of JCP seats increased to two. In Tonaki Village, the JCP incumbent beat out all the other candidates and in Ogimi Village, the JCP won a seat and restored its presence in the assembly.
In Nanjo City headed by the anti-base “All Okinawa” mayor, the JCP incumbent and a JCP-backed incumbent retained their seats.
Following the Okinawa local election results, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira on September 10 at a press conference in the Diet building noted that JCP candidates obtained the most number of votes in four local elections, including the Ginowan race, and said, “The election outcome gives us great confidence. The JCP will continue to work to achieve a victory of ‘All Okinawa’ candidate Tamaki in the gubernatorial election.”
Past related article:
> Anti-base ‘All Okinawa’ candidate wins Nanjo City mayoral election [January 23, 2018]
