As for unified local elections, mayoral elections in six ordinance-designated cities were announced on the 6th, and 26 people have registered their candidacy so far.
Of these, the Osaka mayoral election is expected to be a de facto head-to-head contest between candidates fielded by the Osaka Restoration Party as successors to the retiring incumbent and candidates voluntarily supported by members of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party.
The unified local elections, which are held once every four years, were announced on the 4th for mayoral elections in six ordinance-designated cities: Sapporo, Sagamihara, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Osaka, and Hiroshima.
Nominations have been accepted since 26:6 a.m., and NHK
has so far reported 8 candidates, including three each in Sapporo, Shizuoka, and Hiroshima, five each in Sagamihara and Osaka,
and
two in Hamamatsu.
The breakdown
shows that there are 3 incumbents, 5 newcomers,
and
2 female candidates.
Of these, the Osaka mayoral election is expected to be a de facto head-to-head contest between candidates fielded by the Osaka Restoration Association as a successor to the retiring incumbent and political groups calling for a review of the Restoration City government, with the LDP and Constitutional Democratic Party members voluntarily supporting them.
In addition, Sapporo City is set to have two newcomers challenge the incumbent who is seeking a third term, and the biggest point of contention is whether or not the city will bid for the 21 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In the six elections, debates are expected to be exchanged over economic revitalization after the coronavirus pandemic, child and child-rearing policies, and disaster prevention measures.
Voting for mayors in ordinance-designated cities will be held on April 3, along with the nine prefectural gubernatorial elections announced earlier, the 18 prefectural assembly elections and the municipal assembly elections of 4 ordinance-designated cities announced on April 3.