His victory was part of a wave against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Okinawa caused by local anger over by a joint US-Japan decision to relocate a marine base to a residential area. LDP candidates lost all four Okinawan seats despite the party winning nationwide. In the 2017 general election, Akamine retained his seat.
Akamine's win was part of a broader backlash against the Liberal Democratic Party in Okinawa, sparked by local outrage over a joint US-Japan decision to move a marine base into a residential area. Despite winning nationwide, LDP candidates lost all four Okinawan seats. In the 2017 general election, Akamine successfully defended his seat.