Toru Hashimoto, mayor of Osaka and coleader of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), traveled to Okinawa on Tuesday for a three-day visit, during which he is expected to sign a policy agreement with a local political group that supports relocation of the Futenma military base within the prefecture.
Hashimoto will meet with former Diet member Mikio Shimoji, who heads Sozo (the Political Group of Okinawan Revolution). On Wednesday, Hashimoto and Shimoji are expected to agree to a policy of relocating Futenma to the Henoko coastal area in the city of Nago in a move apparently boosting the two sides' cooperation as they move toward the Upper House election.
Nippon Ishin does not have an Okinawa branch and in last December's Lower House election, its candidates lost all four seats. Shimoji, formerly of Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), also lost his seat and is expected to run in the Upper House election. His party wants to cooperate with Hashimoto, although in what capacity remains to be decided.