Japan PM vows to work with Okinawa-gov. elect on economy after election win

NAHA, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed Monday to work with the governor-elect of Okinawa Prefecture to strengthen its economy, after he defeated the incumbent who opposes a plan to move a U.S. base within the prefecture in the gubernatorial election.

Backed by parties including Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 42-year-old Genta Koja won the election on Sunday against Denny Tamaki, the governor since 2018, making him the first leader of the prefecture in 12 years to back a decades-old plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.