Newly-elected mayor of Nago、Okinawa、Yoshikazu Shimabukuro

The main issue in the campaign was the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in central Okinawa to an artificial island to be built off Henoko, on the eastern side of Nago.

Shimabukuro said following his victory that he opposes the plan but is "ready to hold talks" with the central government if the state makes modifications to the plan in a way that generates local support.

Unlike his two opponents, Munehiro Gakiyai and Yoshitami Oshiro, Shimabukuro said little about Futenma during the campaign, spending more time promising to improve the local economy. He indicated that if there were certain revisions to the relocation agreement, he might be willing to drop his opposition.

Tokyo and Washington agreed in 1996 that the United States would return the land used for the Futenma base to Japan within five to seven years, but relocation talks have been bogged down, mainly due to strong local opposition.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 28, 2006
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