The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, playing on the need to boost the local economy, won the two most recent elections in Okinawa, which suffers from a high unemployment rate and lacks significant industries other than tourism.
After losing in the gubernatorial election in November, the opposition camp also jumped on the economic bandwagon in the April by-election for an Upper House seat, focusing on the economy rather than its pet themes of war and peace, or, in other words, opposition to U.S. bases in the prefecture.
Ruling bloc campaigners are hoping economic issues will once again dominate the July 29 House of Councilors election in the Okinawa constituency, which will elect one lawmaker.