Genta Koja holds a narrow lead in trader pricing for the September 13 Okinawa gubernatorial election, reflecting his backing from the Liberal Democratic Party and allied groups as a former Naha vice mayor who accepts the Henoko relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Incumbent Denny Tamaki, seeking a third term with support from opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party and Japanese Communist Party, trails slightly amid a record six-candidate field. Late-August polling showed the two front-runners essentially tied with roughly half of voters undecided, as economic concerns such as rising prices, employment, and growth have overtaken base issues as the dominant voter priority. The contest remains tight because both candidates emphasize local livelihood improvements while differing on security policy, with few major campaign developments since the August 27 start to shift the balance in the final week.