Chobin Zukeran

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Chōbin Zukeran

| native_name = {{nobold|瑞慶覧長敏}}

| native_name_lang = ja

| image = 沖縄県南城市市長瑞慶覧長敏.jpg

| imagesize = 220px

| caption =

| office = Mayor of Nanjō

| term_start = 12 February 2018

| term_end = 12 February 2022

| predecessor = Keishun Koja

| successor = Keishun Koja

| office1 = Member of the House of Representatives

| term_start1 = 30 August 2009

| term_end1 = 16 November 2012

| predecessor1 = Kosaburō Nishime

| successor1 = Kosaburō Nishime

| constituency1 = Okinawa 4th

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|10|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ōzato, Okinawa, USCAR
(now Nanjō, Okinawa, Japan)

| nationality = Japanese

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Independent

| otherparty = DPJ (2005–2012)

| spouse =

| alma_mater = University of the Ryukyus
Central Washington University

| website = [https://twitter.com/chobinzukeran Official Twitter account]

}}

{{nihongo|Chobin Zukeran|瑞慶覧長敏|Zukeran Chōbin|extra=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).{{cite web |url=http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/member/?detail_288=1 |title=The Democratic Party of Japan : Profile Detail |access-date=2009-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091124094706/http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/member/?detail_288=1 |archive-date=2009-11-24 }}

Political career

Zukeran was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2009 Japanese general election, representing the Okinawa 4th district.

He is an outspoken proponent of the removal of American bases from Okinawa.{{cite web|url=http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=4010|title=Organized protests at Kadena and Futenma against U.S. bases|first=Kenny|last=Ehman|website=www.japanupdate.com}}

On 21 January 2018, Zukeran was elected mayor of Nanjō after defeating three-term incumbent Keishun Koja.{{cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201801220043.html|title=LDP-backed candidate loses in mayoral race in Okinawa|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|date=22 January 2018|access-date=24 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/site/senkan_i/ninki/documents/20171220ninkimanryo.pdf|title=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|publisher=Okinawa Prefectural Government|date=20 December 2017|access-date=24 January 2018|language=ja}} He took office on 12 February.

He was defeated in 2022 with Keishun Koja returning to office.{{cite web |title=Mayor's Profile - Keishun Koja|website=Nanjō City Hall |url=https://www.city.nanjo.okinawa.jp/shisei/sityou/1645408434/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |quote=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). }}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin|title=Nanjo mayoral election, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL1N4W9NL1NTPOB00B.html|title=沖縄・南城市長に知事支援の新顔自公推薦の現職を破る|date=22 January 2018|access-date=4 February 2018|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://www.city.nanjo.okinawa.jp/about-nanjo/news/2018/01/30-10.html|title=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）|work=Nanjo City Hall|date=21 January 2018|access-date=4 February 2018|language=ja}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Chōbin Zukeran

|votes = 11,429

|percentage = 50.14

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Keishun Koja

|votes = 11,364

|percentage = 49.86

|change = {{decrease}}50.14

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 22,973

|percentage = 66.92

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin|title=2012 Japanese general election – Okinawa 4th district{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/senkyo/sousenkyo46/kaihyo/A47.html#Area004|title=第46回総選挙>小選挙区開票速報：沖縄県|access-date=4 February 2018|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|language=ja}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

|candidate = Kōsaburō Nishime (endorsed by NKP)

|votes = 72,912

|percentage = 52.21

|change = {{increase}}8.50

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Chōbin Zukeran

|votes = 33,791

|percentage = 24.20

|change = {{decrease}}30.51

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Japan Restoration Party

|candidate = Kōtarō Uomori

|votes = 12,918

|percentage = 9.25

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Japanese Communist Party

|candidate = Tamotsu Maesato

|votes = 11,825

|percentage = 8.47

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party of Japan

|candidate = Nobuhiko Ōshiro

|votes = 8,193

|percentage = 5.87

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 39,121

|percentage = 28.01

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 143,214

|percentage = 53.37

|change = {{decrease}}10.96

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

|loser = Independent (politician)

|swing = {{increase}}19.51

}}

{{Election box begin|title=2009 Japanese general election – Okinawa 4th district{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/senkyo2009/kaihyo/A47004.html|script-title=ja:小選挙区開票結果ー沖縄県４区|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=4 February 2018|language=ja}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party of Japan

|candidate = Chōbin Zukeran (endorsed by PNP and OSMP)

|votes = 89,680

|percentage = 54.71

|change = {{increase}}24.94

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

|candidate = Kōsaburō Nishime (endorsed by NKP)

|votes = 71,653

|percentage = 43.71