2019 Okinawan referendum
2019 Okinawan referendum
Support
19.10%
Oppose
72.15%
No opinion either way
8.75%
A referendum was held in Okinawa Prefecture on 24 February 2019. The referendum asked whether voters approved or opposed the landfill work at Henoko Bay for the construction of a new United States Marine Corps base. This is the second prefecture-wide referendum in Okinawa, the first being the 1996 referendum on the reduction of US military presence . Governor Denny Tamaki announced the referendum in November 2018, fulfilling his manifesto promise from his successful campaign for governor .[1]
The Okinawan electorate voted to overwhelmingly reject the central government's Henoko move plan. 72% of Okinawan voters opposed the plan, with 19% supporting the plan. The Oppose vote also passed the 25% electorate threshold, which means the governor is obliged to respect the result and to convey it to the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the United States . However, the central government is not legally obliged to respect the result.[2] [3]
Referendum question and options
The ballot asked voters to decide:
On the central government's plan to conduct landfill work at Henoko, Nago for the planned relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma [citation needed ]
Voters had three options: Support, Oppose and "No opinion either way". It was initially proposed that the referendum had two straight options: Support or Oppose. 5 conservative-aligned mayors of Okinawa City , Uruma , Ginowan , Miyakojima and Ishigaki protested at this plan and threatened to exclude their cities from the referendum. A compromise was reached in January to include the third "No opinion either way" option. The dispute caused a delay on the preparations for the vote in the 5 municipalities.[4] Although a separate voting date for those municipalities was expected initially, the referendum preparations there were finished on time and they will hold the referendum on the same day as the rest of the prefecture.[5]
Early voting was available from 15 to 23 February.[6]
Petition
On 8 December 2018, Okinawan-Hawaiian activist Robert Kajiwara created a petition titled, "Stop the landfill of Henoko/Oura Bay until a referendum can be held in Okinawa" on the White House 's We the People petitioning portal. On 18 December, the petition got 100,343 signatures,[7] reaching the necessary number of signatures for it to be reviewed and receive a response by the White House. The petition was drawn to attention by multiple individuals who signed it. People such as Brian May , Rola , Ryuichi Sakamoto , Daisuke Muramoto, Ryucheru , and others have openly expressed their support.[8] The petition received over 200,000 signatures by the end of January.[9] As of February 24 (date of referendum), the White House has not given a response.
Kajiwara was detained and interrogated by Japanese immigration officers when he came to Japan in February 2019 to campaign in the referendum.[10]
Endorsements
Support
Parties
Individuals
Oppose
Parties
Individuals
No opinion either way
Opinion polling
Date(s) conducted
Polling organisation
Sample size
Support
Oppose
No opinion either way
Undecided
Lead
24 Feb 2019
Results
605,385
19.10%
72.15%
8.75%
53.05%
16–17 Feb 2019
Asahi Shimbun Archived 31 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
1,125
16%
59%
21%
4%
38%
16–17 Feb 2019
Kyodo News
15.8%
67.6%
13.1%
0.5%
51.8%
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Support
114,933
19.10%
Y Oppose
434,273
72.15%
No opinion either way
52,682
8.75%
Breakdown
Division
Subdivision
Support
Oppose
No opinion either way
Valid votes
Invalid votes
Turnout[17]
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Total
%
Cities
Naha
23,372
17.15
102,348
75.08
10,590
7.77
136,310
99.53
650
0.47
136,960
53.44
Ginowan
9,643
24.36
26,439
66.80
3,500
8.84
39,582
99.48
206
0.52
39,788
51.81
Ishigaki
3,566
20.99
12,165
71.60
1,259
7.41
16,990
99.14
148
0.86
17,138
44.63
Urasoe
9,801
20.21
34,498
71.14
4,192
8.64
48,491
99.58
203
0.42
48,694
54.79
Nago
4,455
18.00
18,077
73.04
2,216
8.95
24,748
99.46
135
0.54
24,883
50.47
Itoman
4,523
18.35
17,958
72.84
2,174
8.82
24,655
99.48
129
0.52
24,784
52.13
Okinawa
10,963
19.99
38,571
70.33
5,305
9.67
54,839
99.36
355
0.64
55,194
49.88
Tomigusuku
5,041
18.73
19,504
72.48
2,365
8.79
26,910
99.44
151
0.56
27,061
55.44
Uruma
9,757
20.17
33,891
70.05
4,734
9.78
48,382
99.29
347
0.71
48,729
50.28
Miyakojima
3,228
19.31
12,057
72.12
1,434
8.58
16,719
99.40
101
0.60
16,820
38.48
Nanjō
3,419
17.73
14,303
74.17
1,562
8.10
19,284
99.18
159
0.82
19,443
56.05
Cities total
87,768
19.21
329,811
72.18
39,331
8.61
456,910
99.44
2,584
0.56
459,494
51.51
Towns and villages
Kunigami District
5,552
20.33
19,155
70.13
2,607
9.54
27,314
99.25
206
0.75
27,520
52.66
Kunigami
574
28.31
1,199
59.24
252
12.45
2,024
99.41
12
0.59
2,036
51.82
Ōgimi
195
12.85
1,220
80.37
103
6.79
1,518
99.15
13
0.85
1,531
58.04
Higashi
201
23.40
559
65.08
99
11.53
859
98.28
15
1.72
874
57.24
Nakijin
646
14.53
3,430
77.69
339
7.68
4,415
99.24
34
0.76
4,449
58.12
Motobu
1,045
19.76
3,707
70.09
537
10.15
5,289
98.99
54
1.01
5,343
49.33
Onna
881
20.54
3,048
71.05
361
8.41
4,290
99.31
30
0.69
4,320
51.70
Ginoza
488
17.92
1,921
70.55
314
11.53
2,723
99.09
25
0.91
2,748
59.64
Kin
989
22.83
2,949
68.07
394
9.10
4,332
99.59
18
0.41
4,350
48.84
Ie
534
28.65
1,122
60.19
208
11.16
1,864
99.73
5
0.27
1,869
49.07
Nakagami District
12,613
18.36
49,914
72.65
6,175
8.99
68,702
99.43
391
0.57
69,093
56.43
Yomitan
3,145
17.66
12,906
72.49
1,753
9.85
17,804
99.49
92
0.51
17,896
55.80
Kadena
1,154
20.56
3,897
69.42
563
10.03
5,614
98.99
57
1.01
5,671
52.53
Chatan
2,380
20.09
8,372
70.67
1,095
9.24
11,847
99.55
54
0.45
11,901
53.83
Kitanakagusuku
1,423
18.48
5,629
73.10
648
8.42
7,700
99.30
54
0.70
7,754
57.58
Nakagusuku
1,774
18.99
6,783
72.59
787
8.42
9,344
99.39
57
0.61
9,401
57.35
Nishihara
2,737
16.70
12,327
75.20
1,329
8.11
16,393
99.53
77
0.47
16,470
59.67
Shimajiri District
8,111
17.69
33,518
73.11
4,218
9.20
45,847
99.36
297
0.64
46,144
56.73
Yonabaru
1,562
18.34
6,166
72.38
791
9.29
8,519
99.34
57
0.66
8,576
56.41
Haebaru
2,843
16.39
12,960
74.69
1,548
8.92
17,351
99.42
101
0.58
17,452
58.87
Tokashiki
101
26.44
193
48.25
52
13.61
382
99.48
2
0.52
384
66.78
Zamami
103
18.49
381
68.40
73
13.11
557
98.41
9
1.59
566
72.66
Aguni
58
19.80
198
67.58
37
12.63
293
97.99
6
2.01
299
50.76
Tonaki
60
29.27
125
60.98
20
9.76
205
98.56
3
1.44
208
62.84
Minamidaitō
136
28.81
274
58.05
62
13.14
472
98.54
7
1.46
479
49.23
Kitadaitō
78
32.77
109
45.80
51
21.43
238
99.58
1
0.42
239
52.64
Iheya
169
30.95
298
54.58
79
14.47
546
98.38
9
1.62
555
56.98
Izena
205
34.86
307
52.21
76
12.93
588
99.16
5
0.84
593
51.34
Kumejima
573
18.01
2,307
72.50
302
9.49
3,182
99.34
21
0.66
3,203
49.57
Yaese
2,223
16.45
10,164
75.21
1,127
8.34
13,514
99.44
76
0.56
13,590
56.17
Miyako District
133
31.52
254
60.19
35
8.29
422
100.00
0
0.00
422
50.36
Tarama
133
31.52
254
60.19
35
8.29
422
100.00
0
0.00
422
50.36
Yaeyama District
756
28.07
1,621
60.19
217
10.93
2,693
99.30
28
1.03
2,721
57.39
Taketomi
520
26.20
1,248
62.87
99
13.98
1,985
98.06
14
0.70
1,999
59.02
Yonaguni
236
33.33
373
52.68
316
11.73
708
98.97
14
1.94
722
53.32
Towns and villages total
27,165
18.74
104,462
72.05
13,351
9.21
144,978
99.37
922
0.63
145,900
55.77
Total
114,933
19.10
396,632
72.15
52,682
8.75
720,210
99.42
3,506
0.58
605,394
52.48
Source: Results Archived 26 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine Turnout Election information website
Aftermath
The day following the referendum, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that while the central government respected the result, construction works at Henoko would continue. This statement was reaffirmed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya .[18] Construction works at Henoko also restarted straight away, causing indignation among the local populace who voted heavily to oppose it.[19]
References
^ a b Ito, Kazuyuki (27 November 2018). "Okinawa decides to hold Feb. 24 referendum on U.S. base issue" . Asahi Shimbun . Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ "辺野古埋め立て「反対」が7割超え 知事の得票上回る43万票 沖縄県民投票、投票率は52.48%" (in Japanese). Okinawa Times . 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019 .
^ "72% of Okinawa voters oppose work off Henoko for U.S. base" . Asahi Shimbun . 25 February 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019 .
^ a b Yamashita, Ryuichi; Ito, Kazuyuki (25 January 2019). "3-answer ballot approved in Okinawa, all cities will vote" . Asahi Shimbun . Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ "辺野古移設 沖縄県民投票、24日全県で 宜野湾など3市、参加表明" . Mainichi Shimbun . 2 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019 .
^ "Early voting under way in Okinawa on key U.S. base issue" . Asahi Shimbun . 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019 .
^ "White House petition to halt Henoko construction reaches 100,000 signature goal in 10 days" . Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news . Retrieved 24 February 2019 .
^ "「米国政府動かす男」R・カジワラさん、大阪入管に屈辱の拘束—辺野古基地問題で来日、超党派議員と面談(志葉玲) - Yahoo!ニュース" . Yahoo!ニュース 個人 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019 .
^ "Marianas Variety - Okinawa petition to save Henoko Bay reaches over 200,000 signatures" . www.mvariety.com . Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019 .
^ Ida, Jun (21 February 2019). "US man who petitioned to halt Henoko landfill questioned 2 hrs by Japan immigration" . Mainichi Shimbun . Retrieved 24 February 2019 .
^ Narisawa, Kaigo; Ito, Sei; Ito, Kazuyuki (18 February 2019). "Anti-U.S. base moves heat up as referendum in Okinawa looms" . Asahi Shimbun . Retrieved 2 March 2019 .
^ "立憲民主党が辺野古新基地反対を表明 沖縄県連の発足で枝野氏が会見 県知事選は玉城デニー氏を支援へ" (in Japanese). Okinawa Times . 30 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ Kawai, Tatsurou (30 January 2019). "県民投票、対抗手段は「リコールと訴訟」 立憲・枝野氏" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun . Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ Ito, Hiroki (9 January 2019). "Fearless Ryuichi Sakamoto won't stay silent on Okinawa base" . Asahi Shimbun . Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ Nakajima, Maki (7 January 2019). "Queen guitarist May seeks signatures for petition against Okinawa base transfer work" . Mainichi Shimbun . Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ Miyagi, Hiroya; Abe, Shihoko (9 January 2019). "203,800 signatures collected for White House petition to halt US base work in Okinawa" . Mainichi Shimbun . Retrieved 28 January 2019 .
^ 県民投票投票確定 (PDF) (in Japanese). 沖縄県. Retrieved 2 March 2019 .
^ "Abe moves ahead with base work in Okinawa after 'no' referendum" . Asahi Shimbun . 25 February 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019 .
^ "埋め立て「反対」の民意が示されたのに... 県民投票から一夜明け、辺野古の工事進む" (in Japanese). Okinawa Times . 25 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019 .
Gubernatorial elections Prefectural elections Referendums