2026 Japanese local elections

Last updated

In 2026, numerous local elections are scheduled to be held in Japan outside the unified local elections in 2023 and 2027, including 12 gubernatorial elections and other local elections, due to term expiry.

Contents

Background

The Japanese political process has two types of elections.

  • National elections (国政選挙, kokusei senkyo)
  • Subnational/local elections (地方選挙, chihō senkyo)

While the national level features a parliamentary system of government where the head of government is elected indirectly by the legislature, prefectures and municipalities employ a presidential system where chief executives and legislative assemblies are directly elected, independently from each other. Many of the prefectural and municipal elections are held together in unified local elections (統一地方選挙, Tōitsu chihō senkyo) since 1947, held in years before leap years; [1] but since each election cycle of every chief executive or assembly of any prefecture or municipality is independent and not reset after resignations/deaths/recalls/no-confidence votes/dissolutions/municipal mergers, there are also many non-unified local elections today. Prefectural and municipal assemblies are unicameral, the National Diet is bicameral, with the two houses on independent election cycles.

Gubernatorial

At least 12 gubernatorial elections are scheduled to be held in 2026.

Fukui Prefecture

The 2026 Fukui gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 25 January 2026. [2]

Background

Incumbent Tatsuji Sugimoto stepped down from office on 4 December 2025 following allegations of sexual harassing staff using texts. [3]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
25 January 2026Vacant [A] NoneTBA
Sources:
CandidatesPartyVotes%
Kanemoto Yukie JCP
Takato Ishida Independent
Ken'ichi Yamada Independent
Sources: [2] [4]

Yamaguchi Prefecture

The 2026 Yamaguchi gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 8 February 2026. [5]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
8 February 2026 Tsugumasa Muraoka LDP TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
Tsugumasa Muraoka (Incumbent) LDP
Machiko Arichika Independent
Masako Okubo Independent
Sources: [5]

Nagasaki Prefecture

The 2026 Nagasaki gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 8 February 2026. [6]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
8 February 2026 Kengo Oishi Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
Kengo Oishi (Incumbent) Independent
Ken Hirata Independent
Sources: [6]

Ishikawa Prefecture

The 2026 Ishikawa gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 8 March 2026. [7]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
8 March 2026 Hiroshi Hase LDP TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
Hiroshi Hase (Incumbent) LDP
Yoshinori Yamano Independent
Sources: [7]

Kyoto Prefecture

The 2026 Kyoto gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 5 April 2026. [8]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
5 April 2026 Takatoshi Nishiwaki Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
Takatoshi Nishiwaki (Incumbent) Independent
Sources: [8]

Niigata Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Niigata gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 9 June 2026. [9]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
June 2026 Hideyo Hanazumi Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
TBA
Sources:

Shiga Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Shiga gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 24 July 2026. [10]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
July 2026 Taizō Mikazuki Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
TBA
Sources:

Nagano Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Nagano gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 31 August 2026. [11]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
August 2026 Shuichi Abe Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
TBA
Sources:

Kagawa Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Kagawa gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 4 September 2026. [12]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
September 2026 Toyohito Ikeda Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
TBA
Sources:

Okinawa Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Okinawa gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 29 September 2026. [13]

DateBefore electionAfter election
Governor PartyGovernorParty
September 2026 Denny Tamaki Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
Kosha Genta Independent
Sources: [14]

Fukushima Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Fukushima gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 11 November 2026. [13]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
November 2026 Masao Uchibori Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
TBA
Sources:

Aichi Prefecture

If not set earlier, the 2026 Aichi gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on 30 November 2026. [13]

DateBefore electionAfter election
GovernorPartyGovernorParty
November 2026 Hideaki Ōmura Independent TBA
Sources:
Candidates [B] PartyVotes%
TBA
Sources:

Mayoral

January

Legend:

DateCity/Town/VillagePrefectureWinnerRef
12 January Maebashi Ibaraki Prefecture Akira Ogawa (Indp) (R) [15] [C]
17 January Wassamu Hokkaido Prefecture Koichiro Nakahara (Indp) N [16]
18 January Ninohe Iwate Prefecture Ichio Itsuka (Indp) (N) [17]
Iwaizumi Makoto Sasaki (Indp) (N) [18]
Minamisoma Fukushima Prefecture Kazuo Monma (Indp) (R) [19]
Azumino Nagano Prefecture Eiki Nakayama (Indp) (N) [20] [D]
Tosashimizu Kochi Prefecture Tetsuya Okazaki (Indp) (N) [21]
Makurazaki Kagoshima Prefecture Yoshinari Maeda (Indp) (R) [22]
Kusatsu Gunma Prefecture Kimio Miyazaki (Indp) (N) [23]
Chonan Chiba Prefecture Sadao Hirano (Indp) (R) [D] [24]
Otaki Noboru Hirabayashi (Indp) (R) [D] [25]
Takamori Nagano Prefecture Teruhiro Mibu (Indp) (R) [26]
Takagi Fumihiko Sato (Indp) (N) [27]
Satosho Okayama Prefecture Isao Akagi (Indp) (N) [D] [28]
Katsuura Tokushima Prefecture Takenori Nogami (Indp) (R) [D] [29]
Kitajima Yasuhiro Furukawa (Indp) (R) [D] [30]
25 January Hokuto Hokkaido Prefecture
Hanamaki Iwate Prefecture
Shiwa
Hirono
Kitakata Fukushima Prefecture
Date Hiroyuki Suda (Indp) (R) [D] [31]
Honjo Saitama Prefecture Yoshida Nobuyoshi (Indp) (R) [D] [32]
Fukaya
Kamikawa
Tsu Mie Prefecture
Taki
Kiho
Hadano Kanagawa Prefecture
Gosen Niigata Prefecture Masayuki Tanabe (Indp) (R) [D] [33]
Awara Fukui Prefecture
Minokamo Gifu Prefecture Hiroto Fujii (Indp) (R) [D] [34]
Susono Shizuoka Prefecture
Ayabe Kyoto Prefecture
Kaizuka Osaka Prefecture
Mitoyo Kagawa Prefecture Akishi Yamashita (Indp) (R) [D] [35]
Konan Kochi Prefecture Gota Hamada (Indp) (R) [D] [36]
Nakatosa
Kurume Fukuoka Prefecture Shingo Haraguchi (Indp) (R) [D] [37]
Ureshino Saga Prefecture
Matsuura Nagasaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Miyazaki Prefecture
Kanoya Kagoshima Prefecture
Ibusuki Akiji Uchikoshi (Indp) (R) [D] [38]
Nago Okinawa Prefecture
Yaese
Nanbu Aomori Prefecture
Misato Miyagi Prefecture
Tako Chiba Prefecture
Tateyama Toyama Prefecture
Anamizu Ishikawa Prefecture
Kamitonda Wakayama Prefecture
Kotoura Tottori Prefecture
Chikujo Fukuoka Prefecture
Kusu Oita Prefecture
Soni Nara Prefecture
Kuma Kumamoto Prefecture

Source: [39]

February

Legend:

DateCity/Town/VillagePrefectureRef
1 February Takahagi Ibaraki Prefecture
Kawaguchi Saitama Prefecture
Gifu Gifu Prefecture
Kinokawa Wakayama Prefecture
Aridagawa
Higashihiroshima Hiroshima Prefecture
Itoshima Fukuoka Prefecture
Shibushi Kagoshima Prefecture
Odai Mie Prefecture
Misato Miyazaki Prefecture
Achi Nagano Prefecture
Otaki

Source: [39]

See also

Notes

  1. Tatsuji Sugimoto resigned on 4 December 2025, thus the gubernatorial seat is vacant.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Listed here are candidates who formally announced their candidacy
  3. She resigned as mayor of Maebashi in November 2025. [15]
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Uncontested election

References

  1. "総務省|選挙の種類". 総務省 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  2. 1 2 "Fukui kenchiji-sen, ken shichō-kai ga Yamada Ken'ichi-shi o suisen kensei kadai e no "sokusenryoku" to shite kitai" 福井県知事選、県市長会が山田賢一氏を推薦 県政課題への「即戦力」として期待 [Fukui Prefectural Mayors' Association recommends Kenichi Yamada for gubernatorial election, expecting him to be an "immediate asset" to tackle prefectural issues]. Fukui Shimbun (in Japanese). January 5, 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  3. ""Keep it secret": report reveals details of ex-Japan governor's sex scandal". South China Morning Post . 7 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  4. "Fukui kenchiji senkyo ni shinjin 3-shi ga rikkōho hoshu bunretsu, 25-nichi tōkaihyō" 福井県知事選挙に新人3氏が立候補 保守分裂、25日投開票 [Three newcomers run for Fukui gubernatorial election, conservatives split, voting to begin on 25th]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 8 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Yamaguchi kenchiji senkyo no kokuji made 1-kagetsu han, Jimintō-in dōshi no "bunretsu senkyo"-jiku ni ugoki kappatsu-ka… 3-ri ga mushozoku de rikkōho hyōmei" 山口県知事選挙の告示まで1か月半、自民党員同士の「分裂選挙」軸に動き活発化…3人が無所属で立候補表明 [With one and a half months until the Yamaguchi Prefectural Gubernatorial Election is set, LDP members are increasingly moving toward a "split election"... Three independent candidates have set their candidacy]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 11 December 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Nagasaki kenchiji-sen no rikkōho yotei-sha no yukutoshikurutoshi… nigiwai tobikomi, chimeido appu ni yakki jinja de hachiawase mo" 長崎県知事選の立候補予定者のゆく年くる年…にぎわい飛び込み、知名度アップに躍起 神社で鉢合わせも - 長崎新聞 2026/01/05 [10:30] 公開 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election candidates jump into the crowds to boost their profile, even bumping into each other at a shrine]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Ishikawa kenchiji senkyo, 2026-nen 2 tsuki 19-nichi kokuji 3 gatsu 8-nichi tōkaihyō" 石川県知事選挙、2026年2月19日告示・3月8日投開票 [Ishikawa Prefectural Gubernatorial Election: Announcement on February 19, 2026, Voting on March 8]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 18 December 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Genshoku Nishiwaki-shi ga 3 senshutsu-ba e Kyōto chiji-sen" 現職西脇氏が3選出馬へ 京都知事選 [Incumbent Nishiwaki to run for third term in Kyoto gubernatorial election]. Jiji Press (in Japanese). 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  9. "2026-Nen Nīgata kenchiji-sen, Jimin kenren ga Hanazumi-shi ni 3-sen-muke rikkōho yōsei" 2026年新潟県知事選、自民県連が花角氏に3選向け立候補要請 [2026 Niigata Prefectural Gubernatorial Election: LDP Prefectural Chapter Asks Hanakaku to Run for a Third Term]. Niigata Nippo (in Japanese). 26 December 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  10. "Shiga ken no mikadzuki taizō chiji "4 senshutsu-ba handan wa toshiake ni" tasen hihan o keikai" 滋賀県の三日月大造知事「4選出馬判断は年明けに」 多選批判を警戒 [Shiga Governor Mikazuki Taizo: "I will decide on my fourth term in the new year," wary of criticism of repeated re-election]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  11. "Nagano ken'nai kotoshi 18 no shichōson-chō senkyo to kenchiji senkyo ga jisshi yotei" 長野県内 ことし18の市町村長選挙と県知事選挙が実施予定 [Nagano Prefecture: Eighteen mayoral elections and a prefectural governor election are scheduled to be held this year]. NHK (in Japanese). 4 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  12. "2026-Nen no Kagawa ken wa "senkyo rasshu"" 2026年の香川県は「選挙ラッシュ」 [Kagawa Prefecture will experience an "election rush" in 2026]. Nippon News Network (in Japanese). 1 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "2026-Nen no chūmoku senkyo" 2026年の注目選挙 [Notable elections in 2026]. NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  14. "[Sokuhō] Okinawa kenchiji-sen ni Koja Genta-shi no yōritsu kettei hoshu-kei senkō-i, jijitsujō no Jimintō shien kōho ni Tamaki denī chiji to ikkiuchi e" 【速報】沖縄県知事選に古謝玄太氏の擁立決定 保守系選考委、事実上の自民党支援候補に 玉城デニー知事と一騎打ちへ [[Breaking News] Conservative selection committee nominates Genta Kosha for Okinawa gubernatorial election. He effectively becomes the LDP-backed candidate, and faces off against Governor Denny Tamaki.]. Okinawa Times (in Japanese). 11 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Hoteru mondai ni tomonau Maebashi shichō-sen, Ogawa-shi ga saisen hatasu…"hansei shite shikkari hatarake to takusa reta"" ホテル問題に伴う前橋市長選、小川氏が再選果たす…「反省してしっかり働けと託された」 [Mayor Ogawa re-elected in Maebashi mayoral election following hotel scandal... "I was told to reflect on my actions and work hard"]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  16. "Wassamumachi-chō-sen shinjin Nakahara-shi ga hatsu tōsen" 和寒町長選 新人・中原氏が初当選 [Newcomer Nakahara wins first election as mayor of Wassamu]. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). January 17, 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  17. "Ninohe shichō-sen, Itsukaichi Ō-shi ga hatsu tōsen" 二戸市長選、五日市王氏が初当選 [Ichio Itsuka wins first election as mayor of Ninohe]. Iwate Nippo . 18 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  18. "Iwaizumichō-chō-sen, Sasaki Shin-shi ga hatsu tōsen" 岩泉町長選、佐々木真氏が初当選 [Makoto Sasaki wins first election as mayor of Iwaizumi]. Iwate Nippo (in Japanese). 18 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  19. "Minamisōmashi-chō ni Monma Kazuo-shi 3-sen, 3591 hyōsa de motoshoku Sakurai Masaru Tadashi-shi yaburu" 南相馬市長に門馬和夫氏3選 、3591票差で元職・桜井勝延氏破る [Kazuo Kadouma is elected for a third term as mayor of Minamisoma City, defeating former mayor Katsunobu Sakurai by 3,591 votes.]. Fukushima Min'yu Shimbun. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  20. "Adzuminoshi Nakayama Eiki shin shichō ga hatsu tōchō "zen shichō no omoi to shimin no koe o daiji ni, shisei susumete iku"" 安曇野市・中山栄樹新市長が初登庁 「前市長の思いと市民の声を大事に、市政進めていく」 [Azumino City's new mayor, Eiki Nakayama, takes office for the first time: "I will run the city government while respecting the wishes of the previous mayor and the voices of the citizens."]. Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  21. "Kōchi kengi hosen Tosashimizu shiku de okazaki shi ga hatsu tōsen Taniguchi-shi ni 350 hyōsa" 高知県議補選土佐清水市区で岡崎氏が初当選 谷口氏に350票差 [Okazaki wins first election in Kochi Prefectural Assembly by-election in Tosashimizu City district, beating Taniguchi by 350 votes]. Kochi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  22. "[Sokuhō] Makurazaki shichō ni Maeda-shi ga 3-sen" 【速報】枕崎市長に前田氏が3選 [[Breaking News] Maeda elected for third term as Mayor of Makurazaki]. Minaminihon Shimbun (in Japanese). 18 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  23. "Kusatsu chōchō senkyo shinjin Miyazaki Kimio-shi ga hatsu tōsen" 草津町長選挙 新人 宮崎公雄氏が初当選 [Newcomer Kimio Miyazaki wins Kusatsu town mayoral election for the first time]. NHK . 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  24. "Chōnan chōchō senkyo - 2026-nen 01 tsuki 18-nichi tōhyō" 長南町長選挙 - 2026年01月18日投票 [Chonan Town Mayoral Election - Vote on January 18, 2026]. go2senkyo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  25. "Ōtaki chōchō senkyo - 2026-nen 01 tsuki 18-nichi tōhyō" 大多喜町長選挙 - 2026年01月18日投票 [Town Mayoral Election - Vote on January 18, 2026]. go2senkyo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  26. "Nagano ken takamorichō-chō-sen 3-sen no Mibu Teru Gen-san "ōen ni ongaeshi o" ichi yoake ketsui" 長野県高森町長選3選の壬生照玄さん「応援に恩返しを」 一夜明け決意 [Teruhiro Mibu, Mayor of Takamori Town, Nagano Prefecture, for the third time, resolves to "repay the support"]. Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  27. "[Takagi songi hosen] shinjin Yuzawa-shi ga tōsen" 【喬木村議補選】新人湯澤氏が当選 [[Takagi Village Council By-election] Newcomer Yuzawa wins]. Shinmai Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  28. "Okayama ken Satoshō-chō-sen de hatsu tōsen shita shinjin no Akagi Isao-shi ni kiku mutōhyōtōsen no uketome, yūsen shisaku wa?" 岡山県里庄町選で初当選した新人の赤木功氏に聞く 無投票当選の受け止め、優先施策は? [We asked Akagi Isao, a new candidate who was elected for the first time in the Satosho Town election in Okayama Prefecture, how he feels about being elected without a vote and what his priorities are.]. Chugoku Shimbun (in Japanese). 14 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  29. "Katsuura chōchō 3-sen Nogami-shi ni tōsen shōsho" 勝浦町長3選 野上氏に当選証書 [Katsuura Mayor Nogami receives certificate of election for third term]. Tokushima Shimbun (in Japanese). 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  30. "Kitajima chōchō 5-sen Furukawa-shi ni tōsen shōsho" 北島町長5選 古川氏に当選証書 [Mayor Furukawa receives certificate of election for fifth term in Kitajima]. Tokushima Shimbun (in Japanese). 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  31. "Date shichō-sen, genshoku Suda Hiroyuki-shi ga 3-sen, 20-nen-buri mutōhyō de" 伊達市長選、現職・須田博行氏が3選、20年ぶり無投票で [Incumbent Hiroyuki Suda wins third term in Date City mayoral election, first time in 20 years without a vote]. Fukushima Mi'nyu Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  32. "Honjō shichō senkyo, yoshida shinge-san ga mu tōhyō de 6-sen kimeru "zeishū o fuyashite shimin ni kangen, anshin shite kuraseru machi ni"" 本庄市長選挙、吉田信解さんが無投票で6選決める 「税収を増やして市民に還元、安心して暮らせるまちに」 [Honjo mayoral election: Yoshida Nobuyoshi wins sixth term unopposed. "Increase tax revenue and return it to citizens, making this a town where people can live in peace."]. The Tokyo Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  33. Inoe, Sen (19 January 2026). "Gosen shichō-sen de genshoku no Tanabe Masayuki-shi ga mu tōhyō de saisen, teijū jinkō-zō e torikumi" 五泉市長選で現職の田辺正幸氏が無投票で再選、定住人口増へ取り組み [Incumbent Gosen mayor Masayuki Tanabe re-elected unopposed, working to increase the permanent population]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  34. Teranishi, Tetsuo (19 January 2026). "Minokamo shichō-sen, Fujii-shi ga mu tōhyō de 5-sen shigi hosen ni wa 3-shi" 美濃加茂市長選、藤井氏が無投票で5選 市議補選には3氏 [Fujii re-elected unopposed for the fifth time in Minokamo mayoral election; three candidates in city council by-election]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  35. "Mitoyo shichō senkyo genshoku Yamashita Akifumi-shi ga mu tōhyō de 3-kai-me no tōsen" 三豊市長選挙 現職 山下昭史氏が無投票で3回目の当選 [Incumbent Akifumi Yamashita wins Mitoyo mayoral election for third time without a vote]. NHK (in Japanese). 18 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  36. "Mayor Gota Hamada re-elected unopposed in Konan City, Kochi Prefecture" 浜田豪太市長が無投票で再選 高知県香南市 [Mayor Gota Hamada re-elected unopposed in Konan City, Kochi Prefecture]. Kochi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  37. Nishida, Shinsuke (18 January 2026). "Fukuoka Kuru kome shichō-sen, Haraguchi Shingo-shi ga saisen 19-nen-buri ni mu tōhyō" 福岡・久留米市長選、原口新五氏が再選 19年ぶりに無投票 [Shingo Haraguchi re-elected as mayor of Kurume, Fukuoka, for the first time in 19 years without a vote]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  38. "Ibusuki shichō-sen Uchikoshi-shi ga mu tōhyō de saisen" 指宿市長選 打越氏が無投票で再選 [Uchikoshi re-elected unopposed in Ibusuki mayoral election]. NHK (in Japanese). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  39. 1 2 "2026-Nen 1 tsuki no senkyo ichiran" 2026年1月の選挙一覧 [January 2026 Election List]. NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 January 2026.