2024 Shizuoka Prefecture gubernatorial election
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The 2024 Shizuoka Prefecture Gubernatorial Election is an election to elect the governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, scheduled to be held on May 26, 2024.
Background[edit]
Incumbent Heita Kawakatsu has 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.[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 10th after countless 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[edit]
Key issues in this election include the Chuo Shinkansen.[10]
Candidates[edit]
| Name | Age | Party | Past positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omura Shinichi | 60 | Independent[a] | Former Vice Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture Former Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Advisor to Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank |
| Suzuki Yasutomo | 66 | Independent[b] | Former member of the House of Representatives Former Mayor of Hamamatsu Yamanashi prefecture advisor |
| Mori Daisuke | 55 | Japanese Communist Party | Chairman of the Shizuoka Prefecture Committee of the Japanese Communist Party Former Shinbun Akahata reporter Former social welfare corporation employee |
| Yokoyama Masafumi | 56 | Personal Dignity Party[11] | Representative of the Personal Dignity Party Investor Formerly worked at a real estate management company[12] |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Endorsed by the Shizuoka prefecture Liberal Democratic Party
- ^ Endorsed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Democratic Party for the People, RENGO Shizuoka
References[edit]
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Shizuoka governor to resign after gaffe insulting vegetable sellers". Kyodo News. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Shizuoka gov. to quit as maglev plan delayed, not to retract comments". Kyodo News. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Shizuoka governor quits after disparaging comments about farmers". Kyodo News. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "【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.
- ^ "横山氏が出馬表明 諸派新人". 中日新聞. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-02.