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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAHA 000090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  6/28/2032 
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PINS JA
SUBJECT: OKINAWAN GOVERNOR SUFFERS STROKE, 2 WEEKS CONVELESCENCE 
PREDICTED 
 
REF: NAHA   00000089 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Kevin K. Maher, Consul General, U.S. Consulate 
General, Naha, Japan, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1. (U)  On June 25 Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) 
officials and the local media reported that Governor Hirokazu 
NAKAIMA suffered a mild stroke, and would convalesce for two 
weeks before returning to public responsibilities.  According to 
the press, the stroke might have occurred as early as June 22, 
and contrary to medical advice, Nakaima decided to lead the June 
23 prefectural ceremony commemorating the Battle of Okinawa. 
During the hour-long ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Shinzo 
ABE, other national and local leaders, and thousands of 
residents of Okinawa, Nakaima read prepared remarks, and stood 
and bowed repeatedly as participants bowed to him on their way 
to an altar to lay flowers.  No illness or discomfort was 
visible to casual observers.  Early on June 25, Vice Governor 
Zenki NAKAZATO officially announced that Nakaima had been 
hospitalized for a mild stroke.  He predicted the governor would 
spend a week at the hospital, then a week at home.  Nakazato 
said Nakaima's speech and thoughts were clear, and specified 
that Nakazato would attend events as the governor's 
representative, not as acting governor. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  This distinction is meaningful, because if the 
governor were incapacitated it could trigger a gubernatorial 
election.  An OPG official told ConGen Naha that upon the death 
or resignation of the governor, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly 
(OPA) had five days to notify the OPG election office.  In case 
of an incapacitating illness or injury, the official noted, it 
was expected that a close associate would advise the governor to 
resign.  The OPA would accept such a resignation as a matter of 
course.  Once the OPG election office received notice from the 
OPA, it must prepare for and conduct a gubernatorial election 
within 50 days. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  On June 27 the OPG announced that it would post 
information about the governor's condition daily, due to the 
overwhelming volume of inquiries from the press and associates 
from all walks of life.  Speculation has been rife that 
Nakaima's health is in worse shape than the OPG has admitted. 
Nakaima smokes heavily and is reputedly a heavy drinker, and 
even a mild stroke can be a serious matter.  The most active 
proponent of the theory to ConGen Naha has been independent 
national Diet member Mikio SHIMOJI, who repeatedly and widely 
"confided" that he wanted to run in the November 2006 
gubernatorial race. However, we have no reason to believe at 
this point that Nakaima's condition is any worse than what the 
OPG is telling us. 
 
¶4. (C) Neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition parties 
are in any shape to field a candidate for governor in the near 
future.  The "reformist" (anti-military) parties are still 
licking self-inflicted wounds from infighting over their 
candidate and platform for the November 2006 gubernatorial race. 
 Nakaima's aggressiveness in seeking Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP)/Komeito backing for his candidacy ruffled feathers amongst 
conservatives who might have wanted a chance, but the other 
possible candidates were frankly not very strong.  Okinawa LDP 
executive director Hiroshi NAKAMATSU told us Nakaima was the 
most capable candidate for prefectural governor since former 
governor Junji Nishime (the late father of two current national 
Diet members).  We know, however, that Okinawa LDP's first 
choice for candidate was younger brother Kozaburo Nishime, who 
made it clear that he preferred the Tokyo-based life of a 
national Diet member to the Naha-bound life of the prefectural 
 
NAHA 00000090  002 OF 002 
 
 
governor. 
 
¶5. (C)  Since taking office, Nakaima has proved far more 
supportive of US Forces and facilities in Okinawa than his 
putatively conservative predecessor.  During a January 2007 
courtesy call by the senior US military official in Okinawa, 
Nakaima waived off a laundry list of complaints prepared by his 
staff and engaged LtGen Joseph Weber on gaining access to 
on-base markets and schools for Okinawans.  Nakaima asked the 
senior USG military and civilian representatives in Okinawa to 
participate in the June 23 commemoration ceremony, a remarkable 
first, especially considering that Japanese military officials 
are still not in the first rank of guests. 
 
¶6.  (C) Nakaima's support is not undiluted.  He continues to 
seek difficult (if not impossible) changes to the 
bilaterally-agreed replacement facility for Marine Corps Air 
Station Futenma.  Recently he issued a statement calling on the 
United States to refrain from sending Navy mine countermeasures 
ships to a civilian port on the south-western island of 
Yonaguni, reftel.  His objections are not as shrill as those of 
his predecessors, though, and often appear to be pro forma nods 
to perceived sensitivity, intended to mitigate hounding by the 
media.  Consul General Maher had a letter delivered to Nakaima's 
hospital room expressing hope for the Governor's speedy 
recovery.  We were told by his private secretary that he had 
read the letter and expressed his appreciation for our concern. 
MAHER