Japan PM Abe's pick in Okinawa governor's race mum on U.S. base relocation

A major candidate running for governor of Okinawa in an election this month with the backing of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Liberal Democratic Party did not clarify his stand on the single most contentious issue when releasing his campaign pledges Monday.Atsushi Sakima, the former mayor of Ginowan, did not clarify where he stands on the controversial plan to relocate a major U.S. military base within the prefecture.Sakima is running with the backing of Abe and his ruling coalition, which is pressing to move the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded residential area of G…READ FULL ARTICLE