Story perspectives

Genta Koja wins Okinawa election, backs Futenma relocation

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 6:23 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Genta Koja Wins

Genta Koja won the Okinawa gubernatorial election, defeating incumbent Denny Tamaki.
Koja received backing from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and allied parties, including the Japan Innovation Party.
Koja will accept the plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan to Henoko.
Koja’s four-year term begins on Sept. 30, 2026, ending a 12-year period without a relocation-tolerant governor.

Summary

Koja Promises Growth

Koja pledged to double Okinawa’s prefectural income within ten years.
He promoted a “5K economy” based on tourism, health, environment, marine industries, and entrepreneurship.
Koja set a target of attracting 15 million tourists while raising per-visitor spending.
Exit polls showed over 70 % of voters in their thirties voted for Koja.
Koja proposed transport upgrades, including better roads, expanded bus service, and a possible north-south rail line.

History

Historical Context

When the United States handed Okinawa back to Japan on 15 May 1972, the reversion kept a heavy U.S. footprint—about 75 % of America’s bases in Japan remain on the islands. Subsequent accords in 1996 and 2016 returned small parcels (?5 % and 17 %) but the base presence still drives local politics. Genta Koja’s 2024 campaign invokes this legacy, pledging economic diversification and support for the contested Futenma relocation.

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Genta Koja Wins

Genta Koja won the Okinawa gubernatorial election, defeating incumbent Denny Tamaki.
Koja received backing from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and allied parties, including the Japan Innovation Party.
Koja will accept the plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan to Henoko.
Koja’s four-year term begins on Sept. 30, 2026, ending a 12-year period without a relocation-tolerant governor.

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