Official campaigning for the mayoral election kicked off Sunday in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, where the relocation of a key U.S. Marine Corps base remained the top issue.
So far, two independents — Atsushi Sakima, 47, a former member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, and former Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha, 60, — have filed candidacies for the Feb. 12 election to choose the successor to former Mayor Takeshi Asato, who has resigned for health reasons.
Both candidates want the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which takes up one-quarter of the city's land, moved outside the prefecture.