Campaigning for the Nov. 19 Okinawa gubernatorial election got under way Thursday, with three newcomers filing their candidacies to succeed Keiichi Inamine.
The race is expected to pit Hirokazu Nakaima, 67, former vice governor and ex-chairman of Okinawa Electric Power Co., who is backed by the ruling coalition, against former House of Councilors member Keiko Itokazu, 59, who is supported by the opposition camp.
A third candidate is Chosuke Yara, 54, an employee of a clothing company who heads the Ryukyu independence party and is seeking to promote regional development.