Incumbent Nishi re-elected in Yamaguchi town vote on spent nuclear fuel storage
In short
Incumbent Tetsuo Nishi, 79, won re-election in the Kaminoseki town mayoral election in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Oct. 4, defeating independent newcomer Koji Hara, 54. The vote was the first since Chugoku Electric's plan for an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel emerged in 2023; Nishi backed the project, while Hara did not clearly support or oppose it. Turnout was 77.99%, up from 74.97% at the previous election.
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Incumbent Tetsuo Nishi, 79, won re-election as mayor of Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Oct. 4, defeating independent newcomer Koji Hara, 54, according to Mainichi, Jiji Press and Asahi Shimbun. The election was the first since Chugoku Electric's plan for an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel emerged in 2023, TBS, Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi reported. Turnout was 77.99%, up from 74.97% in the previous election, Mainichi and Asahi said. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Nishi, who took office in 2022, accepted a survey by Chugoku Electric in 2023 while preparations for the company's Kaminoseki nuclear plant were suspended, Jiji reported. He supported accepting the storage facility, saying nuclear-related grants allowed the town to work on childcare support and resident welfare, and arguing that the facility was indispensable for the town's survival, Jiji and Asahi reported. Hara, described by Mainichi as an outdoor guide, by Jiji as self-employed and by Asahi as a nature-tourism operator living in Hirao, did not clearly support or oppose the facility. He criticized the current town administration for dividing the town over nuclear policy and called for building a town not dependent on nuclear revenue, Mainichi, Jiji and Asahi reported. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
After the result, Nishi appeared at a prefectural fisheries cooperative branch with supporters and said he had positioned the election as a judgment on whether the interim storage facility was necessary, Asahi reported. He said the facility's power was needed to slow the town's population decline and that he would advance the policy, according to Asahi. Mainichi quoted him as saying the result showed “public will” that the facility was necessary. [ 8 , 9 ]
On election day, turnout was 18.73% at 10 a.m., 5.81 points below the previous election, Nippon TV reported, and 34.55% at 4 p.m., according to TBS. Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at six locations, with counting from 8 p.m., Nippon TV said. By Oct. 3, 776 voters, about 40% of the electorate, had cast early ballots, and the town had 1,890 eligible voters, Nippon TV and Asahi reported. [ 1 , 2 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The result keeps the Kaminoseki town government in favor of accepting Chugoku Electric's proposed interim storage facility, which Nishi said was needed for nuclear-related subsidies and to slow population decline. The election tested local opinion on the facility after the plan emerged in 2023, and Nishi said after his win that he would advance the policy. The documents do not say how the project will proceed after the vote.
Key facts
- Kaminoseki held its mayoral election on Oct. 4, 2026, with incumbent Tetsuo Nishi, 79, re-elected over independent newcomer Koji Hara, 54. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- It was the first Kaminoseki mayoral election since Chugoku Electric's plan for an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel emerged in 2023. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Nishi supported building the facility; Hara did not show a clear position for or against it and criticized the plan for dividing the town. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Turnout was 77.99%, compared with 74.97% in the previous election. [ 6 , 8 ]
- Kaminoseki had 1,890 eligible voters, and 776 voters, about 40% of the electorate, had cast early ballots by Oct. 3. [ 1 ]
- Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at six locations, with counting from 8 p.m. [ 1 ]
- At 10 a.m. turnout was 18.73%, down 5.81 points from the previous election, and by 4 p.m. it was 34.55%. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Nishi said after his win that the election was a judgment on whether the facility was necessary and that he would advance the policy. [ 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Tetsuo Nishi, 79, won re-election as Kaminoseki mayor, defeating Koji Hara, 54. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The election was the first since Chugoku Electric's plan for an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel emerged in 2023. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Nishi supported building the interim storage facility, while Hara did not clearly state a position for or against it. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Turnout was 77.99%, compared with 74.97% in the previous election. [ 6 , 8 ]
- Kaminoseki had 1,890 eligible voters. [ 1 , 8 ]
- Nishi said after his win that the election was a judgment on the facility's necessity and that he would advance the policy. [ 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- The certified vote totals and Nishi's margin of victory are not given in the documents. Reports give the outcome and turnout but no vote counts or margin.
- The next steps for Chugoku Electric's interim storage facility plan are not described. The documents cover the plan and the election campaign but not post-election approvals, construction schedules or company next steps.
- Hara's precise position on the interim storage facility remains ambiguous. Mainichi and Asahi say he did not show support or opposition; Jiji says he criticized the current town administration over nuclear policy.
- The documents do not say whether the result has been officially certified. Early reports call Nishi's win certain or projected; later reports say he was re-elected, but no election commission certification is cited.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Voting begins at six polling places in Kaminoseki. [ 1 ]
- Turnout is 18.73%, 5.81 points below the previous election. [ 1 ]
- Turnout is 34.55%. [ 2 ]
- Voting closes. [ 1 ]
- Vote counting begins. [ 1 ]
- TBS reports that Nishi's second-term win is certain; Nippon TV reports it at 20:32. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Mainichi reports Nishi re-elected and final turnout of 77.99%. [ 6 ]