World
New Okinawa Leader Supports U.S. Military Base Move
A pro-government candidate has won the Okinawa governor race, which could make it easier for Tokyo to relocate a controversial U.S. military base.
Voters at a polling station in Okinawa during the recent gubernatorial election.
By John Doe
Reporting from Japan 
Sept. 15, 2026, 1:54 a.m. - 7 hours ago
A big change is coming to Okinawa. Genta Koja has won the election for governor. He was backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, which is the group that runs the national government in Tokyo.
This is a big deal because for the first time in 12 years, the person leading Okinawa agrees with the plan to move a U.S. Marine airfield.
For a long time, many people in Okinawa have fought against this plan. They have been unhappy about the U.S. military presence on their island. Previous leaders have tried to block or slow down the construction of the new base.
Now that Koja has won, the government in Tokyo might have a much easier time moving forward with its plans. They want to finish building the base and strengthen Japan's military ties with the United States.
However, the island is still very divided. Even with a new leader, many local people are still worried about the noise and safety issues that come with living near a military base. Experts say the government will still need to work very hard to keep the peace and address these local concerns while they move ahead with the construction.
Source: Reuters
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