Okinawa Gov. Tamaki leaves office, warns base burden will continue to grow

NAHA, Japan - Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki voiced concern Tuesday that the excessive base-hosting burden of the prefecture will continue to increase, as he left office after two four-year terms marked by his clashes with the central government over the planned relocation of a U.S. military base.

Genta Koja, who defeated Tamaki in the Sept. 13 gubernatorial election and supports the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the coastal Henoko area of Nago, will take office Wednesday. Koja's administration will be Okinawa's first in 12 years to accept the relocation plan.