Genta Koja
Genta Koja | |
|---|---|
古謝 玄太 | |
.jpg) Koja in 2026 | |
| Governor of Okinawa Prefecture | |
| Assumed office 30 September 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Denny Tamaki |
| Deputy Mayor of Naha | |
| In office 21 December 2022 – 6 February 2026 | |
| Mayor | Satoru Chinen |
| Preceded by | Kengo Kuba |
| Succeeded by | Kōya Kinjo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 October 1983 |
| Party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | LDP (until 2022) |
| Education | University of Tokyo |
Genta Koja (古謝 玄太, Koja Genta; born 23 October 1983) is a Japanese politician, who is the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture.
Early years
[edit]Koja was born on 23 October 1983 in Naha, Okinawa.[1]
After graduating from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Tokyo, Koja entered the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the same university but dropped out. In 2008, he joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and was seconded to places such as the Nagasaki Prefectural Government.[2]
He resigned from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2020. Afterwards, he joined NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Inc., where he was involved in human-centered urban development leveraging information and communications technology, as well as training programs for startup founders in Okinawa.[2]
Political career
[edit]House of Councillors election and Deputy Mayor of Naha
[edit]In the lead-up to selecting a candidate for the Okinawa at-large district in the 2022 House of Councillors election, Kozaburo Nishime, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member of the House of Representatives, approached Koja about running as an LDP candidate. Accepting the request, Koja decided to run and announced his candidacy.[3] In the election, he narrowly lost to the opposition-backed incumbent Yōichi Iha by a slim margin of just 2,888 votes.[4][5]
On 21 December 2022, he took office as Deputy Mayor of Naha City under Mayor Satoru Chinen.[6]
Governor of Okinawa Prefecture
[edit]On 11 January 2026, ahead of the gubernatorial election scheduled for that year, economic and conservative organizations in Okinawa Prefecture nominated Koja as their candidate.[7] On 6 February, Koja stepped down as Deputy Mayor of Naha City, and on 23 March he officially announced his candidacy.[8]
On 27 August, the gubernatorial election campaign officially commenced. Shortly before the announcement, conservative candidate Mikio Shimoji withdrew his candidacy, turning the race into a virtual head-to-head battle between Koja and incumbent left-wing candidate Denny Tamaki.[9] He was described as a "conservative ally, pro-Sanae Takaichi, pro-Taiwan, pro-Western, and pro-Americanism."
On 13 September, as a result of the election, he defeated Tamaki by a large margin and became the next governor of Okinawa Prefecture. He became the first Governor of Okinawa Prefecture born after 1972, when the U.S. occupation ended and Okinawa was returned to Japan.[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ "沖縄県知事選で初当選、古謝玄太氏とは 大学生の時から知事が夢". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- 1 2 "マラソン完走に東大県人会設立…古謝玄太氏ってどんな人？". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "自民、38歳元官僚を擁立へ 知事側の現職も立候補予定 参院沖縄". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 6 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "沖縄選挙区で無所属の伊波洋一氏が再選". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "【動画】伊波洋一氏が再選 古謝玄太氏に2888票差 辺野古阻止へ民意示す＜参院選沖縄選挙区＞". Ryūkyū Shimpō (in Japanese). 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "「市民のために働いていきたい」古謝氏が那覇市副市長に就任 任期は26年12月までの4年間". Ryūkyū Shimpō (in Japanese). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
- ↑ "【速報】沖縄県知事選に古謝玄太氏の擁立決定 保守系選考委、事実上の自民党支援候補に 玉城デニー知事と一騎打ちへ". Okinawa Times (in Japanese). 11 January 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
- ↑ "沖縄県知事選で古謝玄太氏が出馬表明 前那覇市副市長、辺野古は容認". The Nikkei (in Japanese). 23 March 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
- ↑ "沖縄県知事選挙あす告示…県政奪還へ自民総力戦、オール沖縄は旗印「辺野古移設反対」外し牙城死守". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 26 August 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
- ↑ "Japan ruling camp-backed Koja set to win Okinawa governor race". Mainichi Shimbun. 13 September 2026. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
| Empire of Japan 1879–1945 | |
|---|---|
| State of Japan since 1972 | |
