The Yokohama mayoral election, triggered by the expiration of the current term, has been officially announced, with campaigning intensifying ahead of the August 3rd vote. Here’s a look at the six candidates running for office—their motivations, policies, and backgrounds.

Before becoming mayor of Yokohama, he was a professor at the municipal university’s medical school, specializing in data science. His work involved analyzing vast amounts of information from a medical perspective to find solutions to societal challenges. Alongside his research, he began contemplating the sustainability of Yokohama as a city, eventually deciding to bring a data-driven approach to municipal governance. Reflecting on his first four-year term, he described it as „a daily battle.“ However, he noted progress in key initiatives like childcare support, stating, „Many policies have taken root and are now growing. A positive cycle is emerging.“ He also emphasized the development of data-handling talent, including the establishment of a dedicated department last spring. Moving forward, he aims to use data to assess how policies impact citizens‘ lives.

„What politicians need is a meddlesome spirit,“ she says. As a Yokohama city council member for 14 years, she spearheaded major projects like infrastructure development and the establishment of a pediatric hospice while staying attuned to residents‘ concerns. She once took in a homeless teenager, believing that „helping one person in front of you is how you earn the trust of 3.77 million citizens.“ Originally from Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima, she moved to Tokyo at 18, later settling in Yokohama after a workplace marriage. After her eldest son’s birth, she launched a community council, where discussions with city officials about disaster preparedness and childcare made her realize the limitations of acting as a private citizen. Encouraged by former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, she ran for city council as an unknown newcomer without political backing.

In his student days, his novel Somehow, Crystal became a bestseller, catapulting him to fame. At 44, he became governor of Nagano Prefecture, making headlines with his „anti-dam declaration.“ After serving as a national lawmaker, he worked as a DJ for FM Yokohama. As his public commentary on city issues grew, he ran in the previous mayoral election. This time, he’s held over 100 town hall meetings to shape his platform, „20 Promises for a New City Government.“ His pledges include repealing corporate relocation incentives, overhauling the 2027 International Horticultural Expo, and creating a 24-hour hotline for citizens to bypass bureaucracy. His goal is a government where „officials serve residents like a comprehensive service industry.“

At 55, researching his family history revealed that his great-grandfather ran a tea business in late-Edo Yokohama, pioneering domestic black tea production. Tracing his ancestors’ contributions to the city’s growth, he felt compelled to „devote my remaining years to Yokohama.“ A lifelong resident, he vividly recalls the 1989 Yokohama Exposition during the bubble economy. „Back then, families thrived without spending extravagantly.“ Now, with the city’s vitality waning due to depopulation, his campaign theme—“Yokohama, Again.“—aims to reverse the trend.

In 1977, he founded „Tsuma Sei,“ a supplier of vegetables to hotels and restaurants around Yokohama, and now serves as chairman. His group companies span diverse sectors, from daycare centers to a famed cheesecake brand. „I want to repay Yokohama, which nurtured me, with a merchant’s sensibility,“ he says, explaining his decision to run. A licensed chef, he’s passionate about food. His platform includes rebuilding all elementary and middle school gyms with attached kitchens to serve as hubs for school lunches and community dining. He proposes funding this through municipal bonds, repaid by boosting corporate tax revenue via local business support.

The youngest of three in a single-parent household, he grew up in „a very tough environment—but with immense support.“ His eldest brother quit university to pay his high school fees; his mother respected his career choices. City programs for single parents also helped. After college, he worked to ease his family’s burdens, then started a cloud-sourcing business at 27. Though successful with multiple ventures, he remains humble: „It’s been one lucky break after another.“

Yokohama

Yokohama is a major port city in Japan, located south of Tokyo, known for its vibrant cultural mix and historical significance as one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade in 1859. The city features landmarks like the Yokohama Chinatown, the historic Red Brick Warehouse, and the futuristic Minato Mirai district. Its development reflects Japan’s modernization and international connections during the Meiji era and beyond.

Tokunoshima Island

Tokunoshima Island is one of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, known for its lush nature, unique wildlife, and traditional bullfighting (Tōgyū). Historically, it was part of the Ryukyu Kingdom before coming under Japanese control in the 17th century. The island preserves rich cultural traditions, including folk songs and festivals, alongside its scenic landscapes.

Kagoshima

Kagoshima, located on the southern tip of Japan’s Kyushu Island, is a vibrant city known for its stunning natural scenery, including the active volcano Sakurajima. Historically, it was the political center of the Satsuma Domain, which played a key role in the Meiji Restoration (1868). Today, Kagoshima is celebrated for its rich samurai heritage, hot springs, and unique culinary culture, such as Kurobuta pork and shochu.

Tokyo

Tokyo, the bustling capital of Japan, has a rich history dating back to the 12th century when it was a small fishing village called Edo. It became Japan’s political center in 1603 under the Tokugawa shogunate and was renamed Tokyo („Eastern Capital“) in 1868 when Emperor Meiji moved the imperial court there. Today, it is a global metropolis known for its cutting-edge technology, vibrant culture, and historic landmarks like the Imperial Palace and Sensō-ji Temple.

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture, located in central Japan, is a mountainous region known for its stunning natural beauty, hot springs, and world-class skiing. It gained international fame after hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano City. The area is also rich in history, home to Zenko-ji Temple, one of Japan’s most important Buddhist sites, dating back to the 7th century.

FM Yokohama

FM Yokohama (Frequency Modulation Yokohama) is a Japanese radio station based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, established in 1984. It was one of Japan’s first FM radio stations and is known for its focus on local news, music, and community programming. The station reflects Yokohama’s vibrant culture and history as a major international port city.

Yokohama Exposition

The **Yokohama Exposition** refers to a series of industrial and trade exhibitions held in Yokohama, Japan, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, showcasing Japan’s modernization and international trade growth. The most notable was the **1907 Tokyo Industrial Exhibition** held in Yokohama, which highlighted Japan’s advancements in industry and technology following the Meiji Restoration. These expositions helped establish Yokohama as a key port city and a symbol of Japan’s rapid modernization.

Edo Yokohama

Edo-Yokohama refers to the historical connection between Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Yokohama during Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868) and the subsequent Meiji era. Yokohama grew into a major port city after the 1859 Treaty of Kanagawa opened Japan to foreign trade, transforming from a small fishing village into a gateway for Western influence. Today, sites like the Yokohama Archives of History and Sankeien Garden preserve this cultural heritage, blending Edo-era traditions with Meiji modernization.