1972 Okinawa gubernatorial election
# 1972 Okinawa gubernatorial election

A gubernatorial election was held on 25 June 1972 to elect the Governor of Okinawa (沖縄県, Okinawa-ken), the prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan.

This is the first election since the return of the prefecture to Japanese control. Previously the island was administered by the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands.

## Candidates

* Chōbyō Yara, 69, incumbent since 1968, endorsed by the union of the left (Progress and Unity), including the OSMP, JSP and JCP.
* Seisaku Ota, 68, backed by LDP.

## Results

Okinawa gubernatorial 1972 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Okinawa Social Mass | Chōbyō Yara * | 251,230 | 58.56 | 5.05 |
| | Liberal Democratic | Seisaku Ota | 177,780 | 41.44 | 4.99 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 429,010 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.32 | 12.79 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Okinawa Social Mass hold | Okinawa Social Mass hold | Swing | 17.12 | |
