Japan Press Weekly

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2016 January 20 - 26 [POLITICS]

Anti-base candidate puts up good fight in Ginowan mayoral election

In the mayoral election in Okinawa’s Ginowan City on January 24, anti-base candidate Shimura Keiichiro was defeated by the incumbent candidate who received the full support from the Prime Minister Abe-led ruling bloc, despite putting up a good fight for the unconditional removal of the U.S. Futenma base from the city and for the cancellation of the base relocation to Henoko.

During the election campaign, Shimura promised to take back the Futenma base site to the city with no conditions, oppose the ongoing Henoko base construction project, and put a stop to noise pollution caused by the Futenma base within three years. He also pledged to work hard to eliminate child poverty and support child-rearing.

In contrast, the incumbent, Sakima Atsushi, bypassed the Henoko base issue by repeatedly claiming, “The permanent use of the Futenma base is unacceptable.” The Abe administration and the ruling coalition sent Cabinet members and party executives to back up Sakima during the election campaign. They announced the return of seven hectares of the Futenma base site and promised to help bring a Disney resort to Ginowan as a way to divert attention from the Henoko issue.

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Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki on January 24 issued a statement regarding the Ginowan mayoral election result.

In the statement, Yamashita pointed out that Sakima obtained his victory by hiding his position to accept the Futenma base relocation to Henoko. Yamashita added that the Abe government should not regard this election result as Okinawans’ acceptance of the base relocation.

Yamashita said that the JCP will do its utmost to achieve the immediate closure and the return of the Futenma base without transferring it to Henoko and reduce damages caused by the excessive noise from U.S. military aircraft.

Past related article
> Ginowan mayoral election campaign centering on Futenma base relocation kicks off [January 18, 2016]