NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. – Atsushi Sakima, mayor of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, said Tuesday he will run in the Sept. 30 Okinawa governor’s election, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government expected to support him to push ahead with a plan to transfer a U.S. air base within the prefecture.
The 54-year-old mayor of Ginowan, where U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is located, emphasized the importance of “rebuilding ties” with the central government as he declared his candidacy in the election, which follows the death of Gov. Takeshi Onaga, who was staunchly opposed to the base relocation plan.
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