Kyoto Mayoral Election Campaign Kicks Off

A Battle Between Newcomers for the First Time in 16 Years

KYOTO, Jan 21 (News On Japan) - Kyoto's mayoral election campaign will officially launched on January 21, with the race to be contested solely by newcomers for the first time in 16 years due to the incumbent's retirement.

Four independent newcomers have completed preliminary procedures with the Election Management Committee to declare their candidacy: Masashi Ninoyu, a former member of the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly (44); Kazuhito Fukuyama, a former vice president of the Kyoto Bar Association, supported by the Communist Party (62); Takaharu Matsui, a former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Komeito Party, and the Democratic Party for the People (63); and Yoshihide Murayama, a former member of the Kyoto City Council (45).

The campaign will feature debates on various issues, including measures to support education and child-rearing, strategies to combat the negative impacts of "overtourism," and efforts toward fiscal reconstruction. The acceptance of candidacy applications for the Kyoto mayoral election will take place from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, followed by a 14-day election campaign. Voting will be held on February 4, with the votes being counted on the same day.

by Brian Dentry

Source: NHK

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