A by-election for the Lower House seat for Okinawa’s No. 3 district is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2019. On Dec. 24, the candidate selection committee formed of the Federation of Okinawa Prefecture LDP Branches and other entities decided to nominate ex-Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs Aiko Shimajiri (53). She is expected to announce her candidacy soon and will apply to the LDP headquarters for official endorsement. The seat has been vacant since Denny Tamaki was elected governor of Okinawa.

The Liberal Party, where Tamaki served as secretary-general, is also working on selecting a candidate under the leadership of the party’s prefectural chapter. Once a candidate is picked, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other nationwide opposition parties as well as Tamaki will likely support the person. (Abridged)