Keiko Itokazu, 65, who opposes the government's plan to replace U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma with a new airstrip in a less-populated part of Okinawa Island, won an Upper House seat Sunday by defeating Liberal Democratic Party candidate Masaaki Asato.
The Okinawa electoral district gained attention after the local LDP chapter made a campaign pledge that differed from the one issued by LDP headquarters in Tokyo. The chapter called for the replacement base to be built outside Okinawa, while the HQ reiterated its pledge to move it in Nago further north on the island.
The results reflect Okinawa's strong opposition to the base plan, but because the LDP won big in Sunday's Upper House election, local residents are holding out little hope that Itokazu's victory will change the situation.