Denny Tamaki, who campaigned criticizing the American military presence on the southwestern Japanese islands of Okinawa, won the election for governor Sunday, defeating a ruling party-backed candidate pushing the status quo. "The strong feelings of Takeshi Onaga, risking his life to stop the construction of any more bases, helped bring this victory," Tamaki told reporters. But media reports said Tamaki led in almost all areas of Okinawa, making his win certain with the vote partially counted. Tamaki's victory throws into further question Japan's plans for a new air base still under construction in coastal Okinawa. "I can clearly state we no longer want in Okinawa the U.S. bases that destroy our peace and destroy our nature," Tamaki, 58, said during his campaign.

Source: ABC News September 30, 2018 00:44 UTC