Okinawa governor election: incumbent trails LDP-backed challenger

As Okinawa is gearing up for its governor election on Sunday, Okinawa's incumbent governor Denny Tamaki trails challenger -- former Naha Deputy Mayor Genta Koja, who has the backing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The election also sees a shift in voters' priorities, with the economy attracting greater attention than the long-running issue of relocating the US Marine Corps Air Station.

Campaigning is entering its final stretch with six candidates vying for the governorship.

Tamaki opposes the ongoing relocation of the US marine base Futenma pushed by Japan's central government, calling for a complete move out of Okinawa.

During his tenure, Tamaki also visited China and has slammed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government over its efforts to revise Japan's three key security documents and its position on the country's three non-nuclear principles.

Takaichi meanwhile said at an LDP executive meeting this week that the party would "do everything possible" in the Okinawa gubernatorial election, signalling her full support for Koja, according to Japanese media reports.