Overview

• Kiho Town’s Nishida Ken, 77, said he will not run in the January 2026 mayoral election, leaving the race with no declared candidates ahead of the Jan. 20 announcement and Jan. 25 vote.
• Mie Prefectural by-elections on Sept. 7 feature five newcomers vying for two seats in the Kuwana district and a two-candidate contest in Iga highlighted by newspaper questionnaires on policy priorities.
• Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru dined with Komeito leader Saito Tetsuo on Sept. 2 and agreed to proceed with drafting economic measures focused on countering price increases.
• The two leaders also confirmed they will seek a cross-party conclusion on rules for corporate and organizational political donations.
• With June welfare applications up 4.0% year on year to 20,897, the government is preparing three governor consultations at the Kantei on Sept. 8, 9 and 12 to inform a year-end regional revitalization strategy.