Anti-US-presence governor wins Okinawa vote

TOKYO: Okinawa's incumbent governor who opposes an ongoing United States Marine base relocation forced by Tokyo and calls for a further reduction of American troops on the southern Japanese island secured his reelection on Sunday despite concerns of escalating tensions between China and nearby Taiwan.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki and his supporters declared his victory and celebrated with the chants of "banzai" soon after the exit poll results showed he beat two contenders: Atsushi Sakima, backed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's governing bloc and supports its base relocation plan; and another opposition-backed candidate, Mikio Shimoji.