Ex-Lower House member Inatomi to run in Fukuoka mayoral election as independent
Version 2: New coverage added a list of the 12 candidates who have already declared and a mid-October timeframe for Inatomi's press conference, alongside the earlier reports of his decision.
In short
Former Lower House member Shuji Inatomi, 56, has decided to run in the Fukuoka mayoral election as an independent and will formally announce at a press conference soon. The race is set for Nov. 1 notification and Nov. 15 voting, with incumbent Mayor Soichiro Takashima not seeking a fourth term. Reports put the field at a record size, and Sankei reported talk that a rerun election could follow if no candidate wins a quarter of the valid votes.
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Former Lower House member Shuji Inatomi, 56, has decided to run in the Fukuoka mayoral election as an independent, according to reports on Oct. 6 and 7 from Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, TBS NEWS DIG and Nippon TV. He intends to formally announce his candidacy at a press conference soon. Sankei reported that Inatomi told its reporters he had decided to run after hearing the voices of supporters. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The outlets differ on when that press conference will be held. Yomiuri reported him as saying he would explain properly when the conference is held; TBS, citing people involved, reported it would take place as early as next week; Nippon TV said it would be in mid-October. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Inatomi is from Onojo City in Fukuoka Prefecture, graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law and studied at Columbia University's graduate school before joining Marubeni, Yomiuri reported. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2009 in the Fukuoka No. 2 district for the Democratic Party and served four terms in total including proportional restoration, according to Yomiuri and Sankei. Sankei reported he previously served as a deputy secretary-general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. In February's general election he ran in Fukuoka No. 2 with the endorsement of Chudo Kaikaku Rengo but lost, and later left the party; he now works as an independent, the reports said. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The Fukuoka mayoral election is to be notified on Nov. 1 and voted on Nov. 15. Incumbent Mayor Soichiro Takashima announced in August that he would not seek a fourth term, according to Yomiuri, Sankei and Nippon TV. Yomiuri reported that as of Oct. 6, 12 new candidates had held press conferences and declared their candidacies, and Nippon TV listed 12 names. Sankei reported that 11 people other than Inatomi had expressed an intention to run, a field it said would exceed the postwar record of eight in 2010, and that no candidate appears likely to reach a quarter of the valid votes required under the public offices election law, raising talk of a rerun election. TBS reported 12 people had declared, the most ever. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The Fukuoka mayoral race is drawing an unusually large field, which Sankei reported would exceed the postwar record and could lead to a rerun election under the public offices election law if no candidate clears a quarter of the valid votes. The entry of a four-term former national lawmaker adds a familiar name to a contest left open by the incumbent's decision not to run again.
Key facts
- Former Lower House member Shuji Inatomi, 56, has decided to run in the Fukuoka mayoral election as an independent. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Inatomi plans to formally announce his candidacy at a press conference soon. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Fukuoka mayoral election is to be notified on Nov. 1 and voted on Nov. 15. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Incumbent Mayor Soichiro Takashima announced in August that he will not run for a fourth term. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Inatomi served four Lower House terms, first elected in 2009 in the Fukuoka No. 2 district for the Democratic Party, and lost in February's general election running with Chudo Kaikaku Rengo endorsement; he now works as an independent. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Sankei reported the field would exceed the postwar record of eight candidates set in 2010, and that a rerun election could result if no candidate wins a quarter of the valid votes. [ 5 ]
- Yomiuri and TBS reported 12 people had declared candidacies; Nippon TV listed 12 names of candidates who have held announcing press conferences. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Inatomi intends to run in the Fukuoka mayoral election as an independent and will formally announce at a press conference. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The election is set for notification on Nov. 1 and voting on Nov. 15. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Incumbent Mayor Soichiro Takashima will not run for a fourth term. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Inatomi is a four-term former Lower House member who lost in February's general election. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- How many candidates have declared for the Fukuoka mayoral election. Yomiuri and TBS reported 12 had declared and Nippon TV listed 12 names, while Sankei reported 11 people other than Inatomi had expressed an intention to run; the documents do not make clear whether Inatomi is counted within the 12.
- The date of Inatomi's press conference. Yomiuri and Sankei said it would be held soon, TBS said as early as next week and Nippon TV said in mid-October.
- Whether the election will go to a rerun vote. Only Sankei raises this, describing it as being talked about rather than a confirmed outcome.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports that former Lower House member Shuji Inatomi is set to run in the Fukuoka mayoral election. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reports Inatomi will run and will hold a press conference soon. [ 2 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports Inatomi has decided to run as an independent and will formally announce at a press conference. [ 3 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun repeats its report that Inatomi will run and will soon hold a press conference. [ 4 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports Inatomi told its reporters he will run as an independent, saying he decided after hearing supporters' voices. [ 5 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports Inatomi will announce his candidacy as early as next week, and that 12 people have declared, the most ever. [ 6 ]
- Nippon TV reports Inatomi will hold a press conference in mid-October and lists 12 candidates who have already held announcing press conferences. [ 7 ]