Campaigning begins for Ginowan mayoral race, base transfer in focus

Official campaigning started Sunday for the mayoral election in Ginowan in the southern Japan prefecture of Okinawa, with a contentious plan to relocate a key U.S. military base from the city taking center stage.Former Deputy Ginowan Mayor Masanori Matsugawa, 65, and company executive Harumasa Nakanishi, 57, a former head of a union of Okinawa high school parent-teacher associations, are the contenders in the Sept. 30 election to fill the post vacated by Atsushi Sakima, who is contesting the gubernatorial election being held the same day.The outcome of the two elections could influence the …READ FULL ARTICLE