February 1st was the final Sunday of campaigning for the House of Representatives election, with voting and ballot counting scheduled for February 8th. Candidates were out on the streets calling for support.

Amid the severe cold, candidates gave speeches, focusing on areas where people gather, to appeal to voters about their policies.

In this House of Representatives election, 102 candidates are running across 25 single-seat constituencies in Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures.

Key issues in the campaign include consumption tax cuts, promoted by many parties, as well as measures against high prices and foreign/security policies.

Early voting has already begun at local government offices and other locations, with the main voting and ballot counting on February 8th.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, established by the Constitution in 1789. It is composed of representatives elected from congressional districts, with representation based on state population, and it holds primary power to initiate revenue bills and impeach federal officials.

Aichi

Aichi is a prefecture in central Japan, best known as the home of the historic city of Nagoya and the headquarters of major companies like Toyota. Its cultural significance is deeply tied to the samurai era, being the birthplace of the powerful Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu—the three great unifiers of Japan. Key sites include Nagoya Castle, built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, which houses the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.

Gifu

Gifu is a city in central Japan historically known as a strategic castle town during the Sengoku period, when it was ruled by the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. Today, it is famous for its traditional *ukai* (cormorant fishing) on the Nagara River, a practice with over 1,300 years of history, and as a gateway to the scenic Japanese Alps.

Mie

Mie is a prefecture in Japan’s Kansai region, historically known as the location of the Ise Grand Shrine, Shinto’s most sacred site. The shrine, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, has been ritually rebuilt every 20 years for over a millennium, symbolizing renewal. The area is also famous for its ninja heritage in Iga and as a center for pearl cultivation in Toba.