An election that will likely affect Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's political fortunes and potentially have an impact on military relations with the United States kicked off Thursday as four candidates began vying for the post of governor of Okinawa.

The race is widely seen as a referendum on the relocation plan for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is to be moved further north to a facility now being built on the coast of Henoko in Okinawa, in exchange for central government subsidies over the coming years.

Four candidates are running, including incumbent Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, 75, former Naha Mayor Takeshi Onaga, 64, former Upper House member Shokichi Kina, 66, and former Lower House member Mikio Shimoji, 53.