Atsushi Sakima, a former member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, was elected mayor of Ginowan by 900 votes in a controversial race closely watched outside Okinawa for its impact on the long-stalled relocation of the Futenma air base.
Despite initial hopes in Tokyo that Sakima's victory would open a small window of opportunity for shifting the base to Henoko farther north on Okinawa Island, Sakima, who once supported the move, said he will stick to his campaign vow of trying to get Futenma moved out of the prefecture.
"Realistically, the Henoko relocation plan is impossible," Sakima said Monday morning, a day after his narrow victory over an even more ardent base foe.