2024 Shizuoka Prefecture gubernatorial election

2024 Shizuoka Prefecture gubernatorial

26 May 2024
Turnout	52.47%
Candidate Yasutomo Suzuki Shinichi Omura Daisuke Mori Party Independent Independent JCP Popular vote 728,500 651,013 107,979 Percentage 47.42% 42.38% 7.03% Supported by CDP, DPFP, RENGO Shizuoka LDP
Governor before election Heita Kawakatsu Independent Elected Governor Yasutomo Suzuki Independent

The 2024 Shizuoka Prefecture Gubernatorial Election was an election to elect the governor of Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan, held on May 26, 2024.

Background

Outgoing governor Heita Kawakatsu made several gaffes during his governorship. In 2021, the Shizuoka prefectural assembly advised him to resign after he said that the city of Gotemba "only has koshihikari" as its local specialty due to the slush fund scandal.[1][2] In March 2024, he publicly ranked regions within the prefecture based on how "cultured" they were. He later refused to retract the statement claiming it was historically true. [3][4] During a speech to newly-employed civil servants on 1 April 2024, he made derogatory remarks comparing employees of the prefectural government with "those who sell vegetables, take care of cows or create things." The resulting uproar led to him announcing his resignation on 2 April following the June prefectural assembly.[5] However, he clarified on 3 April that he was resigning due to his opposition to the Chuo Shinkansen maglev route and not for his remarks, which he did not retract, although he apologized "for hurting the feelings of people working in the primary sector."[6] Despite his original intent on resigning after June, he announced he will be resigning on April 10 after several complaints from the prefecture and among its employees.[7] He stated the reason for the early resignation as he succeeded to delay the opening of maglev.[8] He formally submitted his resignation on 10 April, which will become effective on 10 May and triggered an election to be held on 26 May.[9]

Key issues

Key issues in this election include the Chuo Shinkansen.[10]

The winner, Yasutomo Suzuki, was called a "Maglev Proponent" by Nikkei Asia.[11] The Mayor of Nagoya, a city on the maglev, said "Mr. Suzuki has a deep understanding of industry, so I think he will get the project done quickly."[12]

Candidates

Name	Age	Party	Past positions
Shinichi Omura	60	Independent[a]	Former Vice Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture Former Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Advisor to Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
Yasutomo Suzuki	66	Independent[b]	Former member of the House of Representatives Former Mayor of Hamamatsu Yamanashi prefecture advisor
Daisuke Mori	55	Japanese Communist Party	Chairman of the Shizuoka Prefecture Committee of the Japanese Communist Party Former Shimbun Akahata journalist Former social welfare corporation employee
Masafumi Yokoyama	56	Personal Dignity Party[13]	Representative of the Personal Dignity Party Investor Formerly worked at a real estate management company[14]

Results

Yasutomo Suzuki won the election,[15] garnering 728,500 votes and a 5% margin over his nearest rival, Shinichi Omura, who won 651,013 votes.[16]

Notes

1. Endorsed by the Shizuoka prefecture Liberal Democratic Party
2. Endorsed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Democratic Party for the People, RENGO Shizuoka

References

1. "静岡県 川勝知事「御殿場はコシヒカリしかない」発言に苦情殺到". 2021-11-07. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
2. 日本放送協会. ""コシヒカリ発言"を撤回・謝罪 静岡 川勝知事が御殿場市長に". NHK政治マガジン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
3. "静岡県の川勝平太知事がまたも物議を醸す発言【音声あり】：中日新聞しずおかWeb". 中日新聞Web (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
4. 共同通信 (2024-03-13). "静岡知事、磐田は浜松より文化的 「市民の共通認識」と撤回せず ｜ 共同通信". 共同通信 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
5. "Shizuoka governor to resign after gaffe insulting vegetable sellers". Kyodo News. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
6. "Shizuoka gov. to quit as maglev plan delayed, not to retract comments". Kyodo News. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
7. 日本放送協会 (2024-04-08). "川勝知事 10日にも辞職願提出 知事選は早ければ5月下旬実施へ | NHK". NHKニュース. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
8. "県議会議長「嫌がらせが成就した…役目は終わったという感じだった」 川勝知事から辞職報告受け 静岡 | ニュース | テレビ静岡". www.sut-tv.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
9. "Shizuoka governor quits after disparaging comments about farmers". Kyodo News. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
10. 博美, 青山 (2 May 2024). "「ポスト川勝」静岡知事選はリニア対応など争点、くすぶる地域対立の火種 告示まで１週間". Sankei Shinbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
11. "Japan's maglev train proponent wins Shizuoka governor race". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
12. ""What will become of the linear train?" Yasutomo Suzuki is the new governor of Shizuoka Prefecture. "Voices of expectation" from Aichi Prefecture officials". Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
13. "【静岡県知事選】告示迫る中で4人目の立候補表明…政治団体代表・横山正文氏が出馬会見". 静岡第一テレビ. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
14. "横山氏が出馬表明 諸派新人". 中日新聞. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
15. "Opposition-backed candidate wins in Shizuoka governor race". Kyodo News. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
16. "Opposition-backed Yasutomo Suzuki wins Shizuoka gubernatorial vote". The Japan Times. Retrieved 27 May 2024.