Chobin Zukeran

Chobin Zukeran (瑞慶覧 長敏, Zukeran Chōbin, born 24 October 1958) was the mayor of Nanjō, Okinawa and a former member of the House of Representatives of Japan, representing Okinawa 4th district (southern Okinawa Island and the Sakishima Islands).^[1] He was elected in the 2009 Japanese general election. He is an outspoken proponent of the removal of American bases from Okinawa.^[2]

Chōbin Zukeran
瑞慶覧 長敏
Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture_Mayor_Nagatoshi Zukeran
Mayor of Nanjō
In office 12 February 2018 – 12 February 2022
Preceded by	Keishun Koja
Succeeded by	Keishun Koja
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 30 August 2009 – 16 November 2012
Preceded by	Kosaburō Nishime
Succeeded by	Kosaburō Nishime
Constituency	Okinawa-4th
Personal details
Born	(1958-10-24) 24 October 1958 (age 66) Ōzato, Okinawa Islands, USCAR (now Nanjō, Okinawa, Japan)
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	DPJ (2005–2012)
Alma mater	University of the Ryukyus Central Washington University
Website	Official Twitter account

On 21 January 2018, Zukeran was elected mayor of Nanjō after defeating three-term incumbent Keishun Koja.^[3][4] He took office on 12 February. He was defeated in 2022 with Keishun Koja returning to office.^[5]

Electoral history

Nanjo mayoral election, 2018^[6][7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Chōbin Zukeran	11,429	50.14	N/A
	Independent	Keishun Koja	11,364	49.86	50.14
Turnout			22,973	66.92

2012 Japanese general election – Okinawa 4th district^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democratic	Kōsaburō Nishime (endorsed by NKP)	72,912	52.21	8.50
	Independent	Chōbin Zukeran	33,791	24.20	30.51
	Restoration	Kōtarō Uomori	12,918	9.25	N/A
	Communist	Tamotsu Maesato	11,825	8.47	N/A
	Democratic	Nobuhiko Ōshiro	8,193	5.87	N/A
Majority			39,121	28.01
Turnout			143,214	53.37	10.96
	Liberal Democratic gain from Independent		Swing	19.51

2009 Japanese general election – Okinawa 4th district^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chōbin Zukeran (endorsed by PNP and OSMP)	89,680	54.71	24.94
	Liberal Democratic	Kōsaburō Nishime (endorsed by NKP)	71,653	43.71	5.33
	Happiness Realization	Mitsunari Tomikawa	2,598	1.58	N/A
Majority			18,027	11.00
Turnout			167,219	64.33	6.93
	Democratic gain from Liberal Democratic		Swing	16.14

References

1. "The Democratic Party of Japan : Profile Detail". Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
2. Ehman, Kenny. "Organized protests at Kadena and Futenma against U.S. bases". www.japanupdate.com.
3. "LDP-backed candidate loses in mayoral race in Okinawa". Asahi Shimbun. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
4. "国会議員並びに県・市町村の長及び議会議員の任期満了日" (PDF) (in Japanese). Okinawa Prefectural Government. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
5. "Mayor's Profile - Keishun Koja". Nanjō City Hall. Retrieved 26 May 2024. February 2018 Retired as Mayor of Nanjō City due to expiration of term. February 2022 Mayor of Nanjō City inaugurated for 4th term (age 66).
6. "沖縄・南城市長に知事支援の新顔 自公推薦の現職を破る" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
7. "投開票結果！ 平成30年 南城市長選挙及び南城市議会議員補欠選挙（最終確定）". Nanjo City Hall (in Japanese). 21 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
8. "第46回総選挙>小選挙区開票速報：沖縄県" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
9. 小選挙区開票結果ー沖縄県４区 (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 4 February 2018.