Okinawa Defense Bureau chief Ro Manabe's alleged attempts to influence the Feb. 12 Ginowan mayoral election by indirectly suggesting that ministry officials and their families vote for Atsushi Sakima over Yoichi Iha have angered, but not surprised, Okinawans, who say such interference by Tokyo in local politics is nothing new.
Ginowan is home to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which Tokyo and Washington want to relocate to Henoko farther north on Okinawa Island.
Both Iha, a former mayor of Ginowan who resigned in 2010 to run for governor, and Sakima, a prefectural assembly member, have said they oppose relocation within Okinawa.