Yokohama mayoral election announced with seven candidates; vote set for Oct 18
Version 2: Filing closed with the seven-candidate field confirmed, candidates' first campaign speeches were reported, follow-up coverage on Oct 5 focused on harassment measures and rebuilding the administration while noting no clear policy debate, and one outlet reported that a company president who had announced a run had withdrawn.
In short
Yokohama's mayoral election was announced on Oct 4, and seven candidates filed, including former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, 54, who resigned after harassment of city staff was found. Outlets said the main issue is whether voters endorse the continuation of his administration or choose a change. Voting and counting are set for Oct 18.
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Yokohama's mayoral election was announced on Oct 4, with seven candidates filing for the post vacated by former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, 54, who resigned after harassment of city staff was found. Voting and counting are set for Oct 18. Yamanaka is running again. Yomiuri, Sankei, Mainichi, Jiji, Nikkei, NHK and Nippon TV reported that the main issue is whether voters endorse the continuation of his administration or choose a change. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
The filing order, as reported by Yomiuri, Mainichi and Jiji, is: civic group representative Shoko Fujikawa, 51; former mayor Yamanaka; former lower house member Kazuma Nakaya, 43; lawyer Atsumi Harazawa, 59; company president Atsushi Fukuyama, 37; architect Riken Yamamoto, 81; and Yuka Asaka, 46, vice chair of the Japanese Communist Party's Kanagawa prefectural committee. All but Asaka, who has Communist Party endorsement, are independents. Sankei reported Fukuyama has Sanseito's recommendation and that Yamamoto has won the Pritzker Prize. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Party support is split. The LDP prefectural federation, Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Democratic Party for the People's prefectural organisations recommend Harazawa, and Komeito's city council group supports her, according to Yomiuri, Sankei, Mainichi, Jiji and Nikkei. The Constitutional Democratic Party's prefectural body supports Nakaya. Sanseito recommends Fukuyama and the Communist Party has fielded Asaka. Yomiuri reported that in the August 2025 election the LDP, Komeito, the CDP and other main city council groups had backed Yamanaka, and Mainichi reported that the port and transport industry continues to support him. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Mainichi reported the harassment came to light in January through an internal complaint by the former head of the personnel department, and that a third-party investigation published in July found remarks such as “idiot” and “human garbage” toward senior officials and control of staff through personnel powers. He resigned on Sept 7. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 14 ]
At their first campaign appearances, Yamanaka apologised over the harassment and said he would “reflect properly and continue the policies for citizens as mayor again”, Jiji reported. Nikkei reported he stressed five years of achievements and said his own shortcomings had left promised policies unfinished. Harazawa said the important thing is to create an environment where each city employee can work with peace of mind and restore citizens' trust, and pledged funds for welfare, cost-of-living measures and child-rearing. Nakaya said he would overcome the administration's stagnation and citizens' anxiety, and Fukuyama said he would bring back politics for the people. [ 6 , 11 ]
TBS reported filing closed at 5 p.m. on Oct 4 with seven candidates. In later coverage, Yomiuri reported calls for a “clean Yokohama” and candidate debate over harassment measures, listing rebuilding the administration and disaster measures among the issues; Nikkei said the axis of the policy debate was not visible; Tokyo Shimbun said citizens' views were split. Sankei reported company president Shin'ichiro Baba, 51, had announced a candidacy; Nikkei reported a company president who had previously announced a run withdrew. Mainichi reported Yokohama is due to host an international horticultural expo in March, and Nippon TV noted a population of about 3.75 million. [ 3 , 5 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]
Why it matters
The vote is a test of the former mayor's administration after the harassment findings, and the winner will lead a city of about 3.75 million people that Mainichi reported is due to host an international horticultural expo in March. National parties have lined up behind different candidates, making the race a measure of their local strength.
Key facts
- Yokohama's mayoral election was announced on Oct 4 with seven candidates filing; voting and counting are set for Oct 18. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- The election follows the resignation of former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, 54, after harassment of city staff was found. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 14 ]
- Candidates in filing order: civic group representative Shoko Fujikawa, 51; Yamanaka; former lower house member Kazuma Nakaya, 43; lawyer Atsumi Harazawa, 59; company president Atsushi Fukuyama, 37; architect Riken Yamamoto, 81; and Yuka Asaka, 46. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- All candidates except Asaka, who has the Communist Party's endorsement, are running as independents; Sankei reported Sanseito recommends Fukuyama. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- The LDP prefectural federation, Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Democratic Party for the People's prefectural organisations recommend Harazawa, with Komeito's city council group supporting her, while the Constitutional Democratic Party's prefectural body supports Nakaya. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- TBS reported filing closed at 5 p.m. on Oct 4 with seven candidates. [ 12 ]
- Outlets said the main issue is whether voters endorse the continuation of the former mayor's administration or choose a change. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 14 ]
- Mainichi reported Yokohama is due to host an international horticultural expo in March, and Nippon TV noted the city has a population of about 3.75 million. [ 5 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Yokohama mayoral election was announced on Oct 4 with seven candidates filing, and voting and counting are set for Oct 18. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]
- The seven candidates are Fujikawa, Yamanaka, Nakaya, Harazawa, Fukuyama, Yamamoto and Asaka, in filing order. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- Former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, 54, resigned after harassment of city staff was found. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 14 ]
- The main issue in the race is whether voters endorse the continuation of the former mayor's administration. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 14 ]
- The LDP, Ishin and the DPFP's prefectural organisations recommend Harazawa and Komeito's city council group supports her, while the CDP's prefectural body supports Nakaya. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- All candidates except Asaka are independents; Sanseito recommends Fukuyama and the Communist Party has fielded Asaka. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- Whether company president Shin'ichiro Baba, 51, is running Sankei reported Baba had announced a candidacy, but he does not appear among the seven filers listed by other outlets, and Nikkei reported a company president who had previously announced a run had withdrawn without naming him.
- The full content of the July third-party investigation report Only Mainichi describes findings such as specific remarks and the use of personnel powers; other outlets refer to the harassment finding without those details.
- How voters view the race Tokyo Shimbun's headline said citizens' views are split, but its article text was not available beyond the headline, and no other document reports polling or voter sentiment.
- What the campaign will focus on Nikkei said the axis of the policy debate was not visible, while Yomiuri listed rebuilding the administration, disaster measures and harassment measures as issues; the documents do not settle the campaign's policy focus.