Koja Genta (古謝玄太), who won his first election for governor of Okinawa Prefecture, takes office on the 30th, bringing about a change in the prefectural administration after 12 years. Attention will focus on the inauguration ceremony and the direction of prefectural administration going forward.
On the 30th, a ceremony marking the arrival of Koja Genta (古謝玄太) was held at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office, with formal proceedings conducted ahead of his inauguration. Koja Genta (古謝玄太) won his first election and will become governor at 42, making him the youngest governor on record and the first governor who is a native of Okinawa.
After taking office, he is expected to outline the direction of prefectural administration in remarks coinciding with the opening of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly’s October regular session. Attention will focus on policies including measures to address rising prices and Okinawa development, as well as efforts to fulfill his pledge to double take-home pay.
The policy is to appoint Masatoshi Onaga (翁長政俊), former chairman of the Okinawa chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, as the new deputy governor, while retaining Deputy Governor Shikichi Miyagi (宮城嗣吉) in office.
Koja Genta (古謝玄太) has advocated accepting the relocation of the Futenma Air Station to Henoko. Following his inauguration, the central government intends to accelerate the construction work, but issues including measures to address the soft ground remain unchanged. The government and the prefecture are expected to seek the resumption within the year of the Okinawa Policy Council, where they discuss reducing the burden of hosting U.S. military bases and development measures.