The referendum asked whether voters approved or opposed the landfill work at Henoko Bay for the construction of a new United States Marine Corps base.

The Oppose vote also passed the 25% electorate threshold, which means the governor is obliged to respect the result and to convey it to the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the United States.

People such as Brian May, Rola, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Daisuke Muramoto, Ryucheru, and others have openly expressed their support.

[10] The day following the referendum, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that while the central government respected the result, construction works at Henoko would continue.

[18] Construction works at Henoko also restarted straight away, causing indignation among the local populace who voted heavily to oppose it.