Politics · Japan · 1 hr ago
Yuriko Yamakawa wins re-election as mayor of Soka
Incumbent Yuriko Yamakawa won a second term as Soka’s mayor in a vote held on October 18.
Soka is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
Yamakawa, 57, ran as an independent against former mayor and former prefectural assembly member Hironobu Kinoshita, 61, and newcomer Hideyuki Ishikawa, 63.
She highlighted her record from the past four years and promised more support for families with children and greater attention to young people.
Kinoshita campaigned on rebuilding city finances and passing responsibility to the next generation, while Ishikawa called for cutting waste.
Turnout was 43.03%, up from 40.7% in the previous mayoral election.
The sources give no further steps following the result.
Yuriko Yamakawa was re-elected mayor of Soka after defeating former mayor and former prefectural assembly member Hironobu Kinoshita and newcomer Hideyuki Ishikawa.
The three candidates were unaffiliated, and Kinoshita was recommended by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Yamakawa campaigned on her record from the past four years, support for child-rearing and a city that listens to young people.
Kinoshita called for fiscal rebuilding and passing responsibility to the next generation, while Ishikawa called for cutting waste.
Turnout was 43.03%, up 2.33 percentage points from the previous election.
- Who
- Yuriko Yamakawa, the incumbent mayor, won re-election.
- What
- She defeated Hironobu Kinoshita and Hideyuki Ishikawa in the Soka mayoral election.
- When
- October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Soka, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- Yamakawa campaigned on her four-year record, child-rearing support and listening to young people; the sources do not state a specific reason for her victory.
Yuriko Yamakawa
Hironobu Kinoshita and Hideyuki Ishikawa
Campaign priorities
Yuriko Yamakawa
Yamakawa emphasized her four-year record, child-rearing support and a city that listens to young people.
Hironobu Kinoshita and Hideyuki Ishikawa
Kinoshita called for fiscal rebuilding and passing responsibility to the next generation; Ishikawa called for cutting waste.
Voting was held in the Soka mayoral election, with counting scheduled for the same day.
Yamakawa was declared re-elected after defeating Kinoshita and Ishikawa.
- Winner
- Yuriko Yamakawa
- Candidates
- Yuriko Yamakawa, Hironobu Kinoshita and Hideyuki Ishikawa
- Turnout
- 43.03%
- Turnout change
- 2.33 percentage points above the previous election
- Eligible voters
- 206,709