Komeito-backed independent Ushijima wins Fukuoka by-election after speaker's resignation
In short
Independent newcomer Keijiro Ushijima, 49, won the Oct. 4 by-election in the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly's Chikugo City district, taking 7,945 votes against 1,809 for Communist Kazuhiro Kawano and 1,715 for independent Tadayuki Sakano, on turnout of 30.00%. The seat was vacated by former assembly speaker Isao Kurauchi, who resigned in late August amid allegations that money was paid for assembly speaker posts, which he denied. Ushijima was backed by Komeito, while the LDP, which had endorsed Kurauchi, did not field a candidate.
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Independent newcomer Keijiro Ushijima, 49, won the Oct. 4 by-election for the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly's Chikugo City district, according to Mainichi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun and TBS NEWS DIG. Asahi reported the confirmed count as 7,945 votes for Ushijima against 1,809 for Communist Party candidate Kazuhiro Kawano, 54, and 1,715 for independent Tadayuki Sakano, 54. Turnout was 30.00% of 39,739 eligible voters, the figure also given by Mainichi and Sankei; Asahi noted turnout in the previous unified election was 45.82%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The vote followed the resignation of former assembly speaker Isao Kurauchi. Sankei reported that he resigned in late August while denying that money had changed hands, and that several former speakers and vice-speakers had told reporters they paid large sums to then-LDP assembly caucus officials, including Kurauchi, when they took their posts. Mainichi and Asahi likewise described the by-election as stemming from the money-for-post allegations that forced Kurauchi out. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Ushijima ran as an independent backed by Komeito, according to Mainichi, Asahi and Sankei; Asahi said the prefectural agricultural policy federation also endorsed him. Mainichi reported that an LDP member of the House of Representatives and some conservative city assembly members supported him, while Sankei reported that the LDP, which had endorsed Kurauchi, did not field a candidate. Kawano ran for the Communist Party as a standing committee member for its Chikugo district, and Sakano ran as an independent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Campaigning centred on restoring trust in prefectural politics, with Ushijima using the slogan “新しい風で、筑後を元気に” and calling for communities resilient to disasters, Asahi reported. Mainichi said Ushijima had announced in July that he would run in next spring's prefectural election and switched to the by-election after Kurauchi resigned. Kawano and Sakano also called for renewing the assembly, Mainichi and Asahi reported. The documents describe Ushijima's occupation differently: Mainichi called him a social welfare corporation director, Asahi an auto school executive, TBS a driving school director and Sankei a company executive. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
After the result, Ushijima told supporters he wanted to “みなさまと一緒につくりあげる筑後市に人生をかけたい”, Mainichi reported, and told reporters he would “市民の怒りや心配の声を議会に投げかけていく”, according to Sankei. Asahi reported that Kurauchi had won the district in 10 consecutive elections since 1987. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The vote was the first in the district since the resignation of Kurauchi, who had won the seat in 10 consecutive elections since 1987, according to Asahi Shimbun. It tested voter reaction to allegations over payments tied to assembly speaker posts, and it was held without a candidate from the LDP, which had endorsed Kurauchi. The result concerns one prefectural assembly seat in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Key facts
- Independent newcomer Keijiro Ushijima, 49, won the Chikugo City district by-election for the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reported the confirmed result as 7,945 votes for Ushijima, 1,809 for Kazuhiro Kawano and 1,715 for Tadayuki Sakano. [ 2 ]
- Turnout was 30.00%, with 39,739 eligible voters; Asahi said turnout in the previous unified election was 45.82%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The by-election followed the resignation of former assembly speaker Isao Kurauchi over allegations involving money and assembly speaker posts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ushijima was backed by Komeito, and Asahi reported the prefectural agricultural policy federation also endorsed him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reported that the LDP, which had endorsed Kurauchi, did not field a candidate. [ 3 ]
- Kurauchi had won the district in 10 consecutive elections since 1987, according to Asahi. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Independent newcomer Keijiro Ushijima, 49, won the by-election in the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly's Chikugo City district. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The by-election followed the resignation of former assembly speaker Isao Kurauchi, who was at the centre of allegations over payments connected to assembly speaker and vice-speaker posts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Turnout was 30.00%, with 39,739 eligible voters. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ushijima was backed by Komeito. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Two other newcomers, Kazuhiro Kawano and Tadayuki Sakano, also ran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether money actually changed hands in connection with the assembly speaker posts. Sankei reported the accounts of several former speakers and vice-speakers and said Kurauchi denied the payments; the other documents do not state the outcome of any investigation.
- Ushijima's occupation. The documents differ: Mainichi describes him as a director of a social welfare corporation, Asahi as an auto school executive, TBS as a driving school director and Sankei as a company executive.
- Sakano's former job. Mainichi describes him as a former company employee, while Asahi describes him as a former staffing agency employee.
- The LDP's stance toward Ushijima's candidacy. Mainichi says an LDP member of the House of Representatives and some conservative city assembly members supported him, while Sankei says the LDP did not field a candidate and does not describe party support for him.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Mainichi Shimbun reports on Oct. 4 that Ushijima won the Chikugo City district by-election, with turnout of 30.00% among 39,739 eligible voters. [ 1 ]
- Asahi Shimbun publishes the confirmed count: Ushijima 7,945, Kawano 1,809, Sakano 1,715. [ 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the result, notes the LDP did not field a candidate and quotes Ushijima saying he will put citizens' anger and worry to the assembly. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the win on Oct. 5, describing Ushijima as a 49-year-old from Chikugo City and a driving school director. [ 4 ]