Overview

• In Fukushima's party-member vote, Shinjirō Koizumi led with 3,403 votes to Sanae Takaichi's 2,481 on 69.41% turnout, with the prefectural runoff vote cast for Koizumi.
• Fukushima LDP officials attributed Koizumi’s local lead to his repeated post-2011 visits and work on reconstruction in roles such as reconstruction parliamentary secretary and environment minister.
• Mainichi reported that Takaichi’s direct involvement with Fukushima's reconstruction has been limited, though local LDP figures noted her push to rebuild National Route 399’s damaged bridge after the 2022 offshore quake and vowed to press her on recovery policy.
• In Shizuoka, Takaichi topped the party-member tally with 8,650 votes (43.4%) to Koizumi’s 6,162 (30.9%) on 71.3% turnout, and local leaders said support reflected complaints that recent party management was “too liberal.”
• Reactions were mixed as Komeito urged swift cost-of-living measures and dialogue, the CDP questioned Takaichi’s record on media fairness, the JCP issued sharp criticism, and Nippon Ishin’s co-leader said reaching a coalition decision before the extraordinary Diet session is unlikely.