Overview

• In Okinawa’s Tonaki Village, former mayor Suguru Tobaru won back the post with 121 votes, defeating incumbent Akira Higa by 16 votes with turnout at 88.72% among 257 eligible voters.
• Hokkaido’s Engaru elected incumbent Shuichi Sasaki to a fifth term over challenger Kazuhiro Matsushita, with turnout reported at 56.13%.
• JA Group Kyoto chair Yasuhiro Nakagawa denied tax evasion and said he filed a Sept. 25 appeal to the National Tax Tribunal after the Osaka Regional Tax Bureau flagged about ¥800 million in undeclared income and imposed roughly ¥500 million in additional taxes including heavy penalties.
• The Fair Trade Commission and the Cabinet Secretariat have jointly drafted guidance to curb practices that hinder entertainers from switching agencies or going independent, with publication expected soon according to reporting.
• Coverage of the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race notes muted public engagement at events and online, and reporting indicates a likely runoff when voting is held on Oct. 4.