NAGO, Okinawa Pref. — Base-relocation opponent Susumu Inamine was headed for victory in Sunday's mayoral race in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, making it unlikely the city will host a U.S. Marine Corps base Japan and the United States formally agreed to relocate in 2006, late projections by Kyodo News showed.
The local race was being closely watched by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who said he will factor the result into his decision on whether to relocate Futenma air station from the densely crowded city of Ginowan further north to less-crowded Nago, or transfer it outside the prefecture.
The transfer to Nago was agreed to in a bilateral accord Japan and the United States signed in 2006.