Okinawa gubernatorial race begins with U.S. base relocation in focus

Campaigning began for the Okinawa gubernatorial election on Thursday with candidates backed by the ruling and opposition parties set to clash over the contentious and long-running issue of the relocation of a key U.S. Marine Corps base within the southern island prefecture.Reviving the all-important tourism industry is also a focus of the Sept. 11 election with the Okinawan economy having taken a heavy battering from travel restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.Three candidates running in the election are incumbent Denny Tamaki, 62, backed by the main opposition Constitu…READ FULL ARTICLE