2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election
Country:Okinawa
Ongoing:no
Type:presidential
Turnout:63.24% 0.89%[1]
Previous Election:Okinawa gubernatorial election, 2014
Previous Year:2014
Election Date:30 September 2018
Next Election:2022 Okinawa gubernatorial election
Next Year:2022
Time Zone:+9
Nominee1:Denny Tamaki
Party1:Independent (politician)
Alliance1:All Okinawa
Popular Vote1:396,632
Percentage1:55.1%
Nominee2:Atsushi Sakima
Party2:Independent (politician)
Popular Vote2:316,458
Percentage2:43.9%
Governor
Before Election:Takeshi Onaga
Before Party:Independent (politician)
After Election:Denny Tamaki
After Party:Independent (politician)

The 2018 Okinawa gubernatorial election was held on 30 September 2018 to elect the next governor of Okinawa.[2] As there are no term limits in Japan, incumbent Governor Takeshi Onaga was eligible for re-election before his death in August 2018.[3] The election was originally scheduled to be held on 9 December 2018, but this was brought forward after Onaga's untimely death. Onaga's deputy, Kiichiro Jahana temporarily assumed his post for three days until being replaced as interim governor by Moritake Tomikawa. This was the first gubernatorial election in Okinawa since the voting age was lowered to 18.

The relocation of the US air base in Ginowan to Nago was a major issue in the race.[4] The campaign period ran from 13 September until election day.[2] [5]

The election was won by Denny Tamaki.[6] Tamaki, like Onaga, wants a fundamental reduction of the U.S. presence in Okinawa.[7] [8]

Candidates

Running

Speculative

Declined

Campaign

Similar to the previous gubernatorial election, the issue of the relocation of the US air base in Ginowan to Nago dominated the campaign. The two main candidates were on opposing camps on the issue with Tamaki opposing any relocation within the prefecture and Sakima supporting the relocation. Tamaki made the relocation issue the main plank of his campaign.[13] On the other hand, Sakima downplayed the relocation issue and instead focused on the local economy in his pitch. Voters that cited the base relocation as their most important issue mostly supported Tamaki, while those more concerned with the economy supported Sakima.[14]

Results

The exit poll on election night indicated a large victory for Tamaki and the NHK called the election for Tamaki early during the count. He gained 396,632 votes, the most votes ever obtained by a candidate in an Okinawa-wide election.[15]

Breakdown

DivisionSubdivision
Sakima
Independent
Tamaki
Independent
Toguchi
Independent
Kaneshima
Independent
Valid votesInvalid votesTurnout[16]
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Total%
CitiesNaha65,52440.91bgcolor=orange92,264bgcolor=orange57.838690.541,1520.72160,16999.241,2190.76161,38865.86
Ginowanbgcolor=pink26,644bgcolor=pink53.9922,37945.351420.291850.3749,35099.442790.5649,62964.03
Ishigakibgcolor=pink11,648bgcolor=pink50.8911,01548.12970.421290.5622,88999.122040.8823,09355.25
Urasoe25,31944.80bgcolor=orange30,622bgcolor=orange54.182640.473120.5556,51799.343760.6656,89365.60
Nago15,01346.86bgcolor=orange16,796bgcolor=orange52.431360.42930.2932,03899.581350.4232,17368.30
Itoman12,55043.88bgcolor=orange15,708bgcolor=orange54.921970.691480.5228,60399.311990.6928,80263.45
Okinawa27,32142.78bgcolor=orange35,947bgcolor=orange56.282390.373630.5763,87099.433670.5764,23760.31
Tomigusuku13,03942.46bgcolor=orange17,442bgcolor=orange56.791210.391100.3630,71299.242360.7630,94862.94
Uruma26,40742.54bgcolor=orange35,011bgcolor=orange56.393520.573120.5062,08298.986421.0262,72460.36
Miyakojimabgcolor=pink13,314bgcolor=pink54.5010,96144.87830.34720.2924,43099.371540.6324,58459.49
Nanjō9,77343.11bgcolor=orange12,642bgcolor=orange55.771470.651060.4722,66899.371430.6322,81167.09
Cities total246,55244.56bgcolor=orange301,147bgcolor=orange54.422,6470.482,9820.54553,32899.293,9540.71557,28263.53
Towns and villagesKunigami District15,06944.66bgcolor=orange18,354bgcolor=orange54.401810.541360.4033,74099.451870.5533,92766.02
Kunigamibgcolor=pink1,555bgcolor=pink58.071,10141.11110.41110.412,67899.59110.412,68966.73
Ōgimi60034.31bgcolor=orange1,141bgcolor=orange65.2430.1750.291,74999.7150.291,75466.34
Higashibgcolor=pink589bgcolor=pink52.6851646.15110.9820.181,11899.3870.621,12576.97
Nakijin1,81735.43bgcolor=orange3,261bgcolor=orange63.59310.60190.375,12899.34340.665,16267.37
Motobu3,09545.70bgcolor=orange3,621bgcolor=orange53.46340.50230.346,77399.40410.606,81463.94
Onna2,27544.55bgcolor=orange2,771bgcolor=orange54.26380.74230.455,10799.45280.555,13563.36
Ginoza1,38944.15bgcolor=orange1,716bgcolor=orange54.55210.67200.643,14699.24240.763,17072.94
Kin2,63548.51bgcolor=orange2,755bgcolor=orange50.72180.33240.445,43299.45300.555,46264.58
Ie1,11442.70bgcolor=orange1,472bgcolor=orange56.42140.5490.342,60999.7370.272,61665.11
Nakagami District30,63239.85bgcolor=orange45,597bgcolor=orange59.323550.462790.3676,86399.394700.6177,33365.37
Yomitan7,65839.17bgcolor=orange11,715bgcolor=orange59.921110.57660.3419,55099.411170.5919,66764.14
Kadena3,23147.24bgcolor=orange3,534bgcolor=orange51.67470.69270.396,83999.33460.676,88565.58
Chatan5,28040.38bgcolor=orange7,694bgcolor=orange58.85510.39500.3913,07599.38820.6213,15762.38
Kitanakagusuku3,16936.94bgcolor=orange5,344bgcolor=orange62.30320.37330.388,57899.54400.468,61866.41
Nakagusuku4,39341.82bgcolor=orange6,045bgcolor=orange57.54370.35300.7910,50599.26780.7420,58365.57
Nishihara6,90137.68bgcolor=orange11,265bgcolor=orange61.50770.42730.4018,31699.421070.5818,42368.48
Shimajiri District22,03742.15bgcolor=orange29,763bgcolor=orange56.932580.492250.4352,28399.313610.6952,64467.04
Yonabaru4,17742.63bgcolor=orange5,524bgcolor=orange56.38470.48500.519,79899.38610.629,85968.04
Haebaru7,43538.63bgcolor=orange11,669bgcolor=orange60.63750.39670.3519,24699.421130.5819,35966.78
Tokashikibgcolor=pink207bgcolor=pink51.7519348.2500.0000.0040097.8092.2040975.84
Zamami26144.54bgcolor=orange319bgcolor=orange54.4450.8510.1758699.4930.5158981.17
Agunibgcolor=pink189bgcolor=pink52.2116946.6941.1000.0036299.4520.5536463.51
Tonakibgcolor=pink125bgcolor=pink53.8810645.6900.0010.4323298.7231.2823574.79
Minamidaitōbgcolor=pink513bgcolor=pink68.3123130.7650.6720.2775199.6030.4075477.08
Kitadaitōbgcolor=pink299bgcolor=pink78.897720.3230.7900.0037998.4461.5638585.32
Iheyabgcolor=pink380bgcolor=pink57.4027541.5420.3050.7666298.51101.4967273.79
Izenabgcolor=pink437bgcolor=pink59.0529139.3291.2230.4174097.88162.1275669.76
Kumejima1,54440.28bgcolor=orange2,233bgcolor=orange58.26421.10140.373,83399.33260.673,85964.90
Yaese6,47042.30bgcolor=orange8,676bgcolor=orange56.73660.43820.5415,29499.291090.7115,40365.37
Miyako Districtbgcolor=pink421bgcolor=pink68.6819131.1610.1600.0061399.5130.4961673.89
Taramabgcolor=pink421bgcolor=pink68.6819131.1610.1600.0061399.5130.4961673.89
Yaeyama Districtbgcolor=pink1,747bgcolor=pink51.641,58046.70401.18160.473,38398.00692.003,45272.64
Taketomi1,14848.58bgcolor=orange1,178bgcolor=orange49.85251.06120.512,36397.40632.602,42671.70
Yonagunibgcolor=pink599bgcolor=pink58.7340239.41151.4740.391,02099.4260.581,02675.23
Towns and villages total69,90641.89bgcolor=orange95,485bgcolor=orange57.228350.506560.39166,88299.351,0900.65167,97266.18
Total316,45843.94396,63255.073,4820.483,6380.51720,21099.305,0440.70725,25463.24
Source: Results

Notes and References

  1. News: 【知事選投票率速報】最終午後11時25分、63・24% . . 30 September 2018 . 1 October 2018.
  2. News: With U.S. Futenma base issue on the line, vote to replace late Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga set for Sept. 30. Kyodo News. Kyodo News. Asahi Shimbun. 13 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
  3. News: Okinawa Governor Onaga, who led anti-U.S. base move, dies. Associated Press. Asahi Shimbun. 9 August 2018. 12 August 2018.
  4. News: New building work begins at site for U.S. base in Okinawa. Ryuichi. Yamashita. Asahi Shimbun. 7 November 2017. 24 January 2018.
  5. Web site: http://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/site/senkan_i/event/tijisen/h30kenntijisen.html. ja:平成30年執行沖縄県知事選挙及び沖縄県議会議員補欠選挙. 沖縄県. 4 October 2018. Japanese.
  6. News: Denny Tamaki, critic of US bases on Okinawa, wins election. ABC News. 2018-09-30. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930021502/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japan-election-weighs-controversy-us-bases-okinawa-58178139. 2018-09-30. dead.
  7. News: Opponent of U.S. military bases wins Okinawa gubernatorial election. Simon. Denyer. The Washington Post. 30 September 2018. 4 October 2018.
  8. News: Onaga successor wins Okinawa gubernatorial election. Ryuichi. Yamashita. Asahi Shimbun. 30 September 2018. 4 October 2018.
  9. News: LDP turns to pro-Abe mayor for Okinawa governor's race. Ryuichi. Yamashita. Asahi Shimbun. 3 July 2018. 7 July 2018.
  10. News: Onaga's chosen 'successor' mulls governor race run in Okinawa. Kazuyuki. Ito. Ryuichi. Yamashita. Asahi Shimbun. 20 August 2018. 23 August 2018.
  11. News: Denny Tamaki takes plunge into Okinawa governor's race. Asahi Shimbun. 29 August 2018. 31 August 2018.
  12. News: Nago mayoral candidates start campaigning for Japanese election tied to base relocation plan, gubernatorial race. Kyodo News. Kyodo News. Japan Times. 29 January 2018. 29 January 2018.
  13. News: Campaign starts in Okinawa, centered on U.S. base relocation. Asahi Shimbun. 13 September 2018. 4 October 2018.
  14. News: Asahi poll: Tight contest seen in Okinawa governor race. Asahi Shimbun. 24 September 2018. 4 October 2018.
  15. News: Tamaki's big win in Okinawa deals 'too harsh a blow' for Abe. Asahi Shimbun. 1 October 2018. 4 October 2018.
  16. Web site: http://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/site/senkan_i/event/tijisen/documents/tijisenntouhyoulast.pdf. ja:知事選投票確定. 沖縄県. 8 October 2018. Japanese.