Campaigns begin for Okinawa governor race, base transfer in focus

Official campaigning got under way Thursday for the Sept. 30 Okinawa gubernatorial election, with the controversial plan to relocate a key U.S. military base within the southern island prefecture topping the agenda.Atsushi Sakima, 54, the former Ginowan mayor backed by the ruling parties, and former opposition lawmaker Denny Tamaki, 58, are the main contenders for the post left vacant by the death last month due to pancreatic cancer of Takeshi Onaga, who was a staunch opponent of the relocation plan and fiercely confronted the central government.The outcome of the gubernatorial race could a…READ FULL ARTICLE