The ruling camp in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly lost its majority in a June 8 prefectural assembly election, spelling potential trouble for the future relocation of a U.S. Marine Corps installation there.

The ruling force, which supports Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, is led by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.

The bloc won 22 assembly seats of the 48 up for grabs, a drop from the 27 it had held. The opposition camp, including the Democratic Party of Japan, secured 26 seats, up from 20. One seat was vacant before the election due to the recent departure of an assembly member who ran in last year's House of Councilors election.

The outcome may have an adverse effect on the government's plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa.