Overview
- In Hokkaido, the Constitutional Democratic Party’s local branch said all 12 incumbent lower-house members plan to run under the new Chudo Kaikaku Rengo, and Komeito’s Hokkaido chief confirmed joining after leaders met in Sapporo to seal cooperation.
- The Liberal Democratic Party’s Fukuoka chapter decided to hand selection for the Fukuoka 9th district to party headquarters, effectively dropping a locally chosen nominee under compressed timelines.
- Former Olympics minister Toshiaki Endo, 76, announced he will not run again and identified his son, Hiroaki Endo, as his preferred successor in Yamagata’s 1st District.
- The Nago mayoral race was formally announced with three candidates, with the Henoko base relocation the central issue and voting set for Jan. 25.
- Hokuto’s mayoral contest opened as a two-way race between a former city assembly member and the incumbent, with ballots on Jan. 25 and same-day counting.