Overview

• Former mayor Suguru Tobaru won the Tonaki Village race with 121 votes to incumbent Akira Higa’s 105, a 16-vote margin on 88.72% turnout with 228 ballots cast.
• In Chita City, Aichi Prefecture, independent newcomer Seiichiro Ito secured his first term; turnout reached 44.56%, up 11.83 points from the previous record low.
• Engaru Town, Hokkaido, returned incumbent Shuichi Sasaki for a fifth term; turnout was 56.13% in the first contested mayoral race there since the 2005 merger.
• With the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership vote set for October 4, NHK reports that Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yoshihiko Noda is seeking opposition cooperation for the Diet’s prime minister designation, though Japan Innovation Party and Democratic Party for the People remain skeptical and are weighing ties with the ruling bloc.
• In Okinawa politics, reporting highlights ongoing scrutiny: Nanjo’s mayor faces a prolonged sexual harassment controversy reaching one year and nine months with no-confidence debate coverage, and an Okinawa Times survey of 39 Naha councilors found 14 see councilor Keiko Wada’s comments on transgender people as problematic and 12 call for assembly action.