2016 Tokyo 10th district by-election explained

Election Name:2016 Tokyo 10th district by-election
Country:Japan
Type:by-election
Seats For Election:Tokyo 10th district
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Japanese general election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:Next Japanese general election
Next Year:Next
Election Date:23 October 2016
Turnout:34.85
Nominee1:Masaru Wakasa
Party1:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
Popular Vote1:75,755
Percentage1:60.26%
Nominee2:Yosuke Suzuki
Party2:Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)
Popular Vote2:47,141
Percentage2:37.50%
Representative
Before Election:Yuriko Koike
Before Party:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
After Election:Masaru Wakasa
After Party:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

A by-election for the Tokyo 10th district in the Japanese Japanese House of Representatives was held on 23 October 2016 to replace Yuriko Koike, who vacated the seat to contest the Tokyo gubernatorial election in July 2016. Koike, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), had represented the district since the December 2012 general election and also served a previous term from 2005 to 2009. The election was won by LDP candidate Masaru Wakasa, an incumbent member for the Tokyo proportional representation block who had supported Koike during her gubernatorial campaign. A separate by-election for the Fukuoka 6th district was held on the same day.[1]

Background

Yuriko Koike, a Kansai native who had represented various Kansai districts in the House of Representatives since 1993, was parachuted into the Tokyo 10th district by LDP Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for the 2005 general election following the defection of, who had held the seat for the LDP since its creation in 1996. Koike defeated Kobayashi in the 2005 election but lost to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) candidate Takako Ebata in 2009. Koike regained the seat from Ebata at the 2012 election and retained it at the 2014 general election.

Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned in June 2016 due to various problems with his use of public funds. On 29 June Koike held a press conference and stated her intention to contest the gubernatorial election to replace Masuzoe that was scheduled for 31 July.[2] On 5 July Koike met with Nobuteru Ishihara, the head of the LDP's Tokyo branch, to formally request the LDP's endorsement. However, with the branch planning to endorse former Iwate Prefecture governor Hiroya Masuda, Ishihara's response to Koike was that the branch would make a decision after the national House of Councillors election on 10 July.[3]

Candidates

Candidates[4]
 DemocraticYosuke SuzukiSupported by the Communist, Liberal and Social Democratic parties.[5]
 Liberal DemocraticMasaru WakasaIncumbent representative for the Tokyo proportional representation block. Received official endorsement from Komeito.[6]
 Happiness RealizationToshimitsu YoshiiListed as an independent in official documents

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LDP, Koike mend fences ahead of by-election for her former seat . Japan Times . 6 October 2016 . 11 October 2016.
  2. Web site: 小池元防衛相が出馬表明=都知事選 . Former Defence Minister Koike intends to contest Tokyo gubernatorial election . 29 June 2016 . Japanese . Jiji . 13 October 2016 . 13 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160813224626/http://www.jiji.com/jc/p?id=20160629113638-0021759848 . dead .
  3. Web site: 石原氏、会談で小池氏に「参院選後に結論出す」 . Ishihara meets with Koike "Decision after the House of Councillors election" . Yomiuri Shimbun . Japanese . 5 July 2016 . 13 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816140949/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/local/20160705-OYT1T50054.html . 16 August 2016 . dead .
  4. Web site: 平成28年10月23日執行 衆議院議員補欠選挙(東京都第10区) 立候補者一覧 . 23 October 2016 Tokyo 10th District By-Election List of Candidates . Japanese . Tokyo Metropolitan Electoral Commission . 12 October 2016.
  5. Web site: 【衆院ダブル補選】東京10区は小池百合子氏支援の自民・若狭勝氏が勝利 福岡6区は鳩山邦夫氏の次男が分裂選挙を制す . (House of Reps. Double By-Election) LDP's Masaru Wakasa supported by Yuriko Koike wins Tokyo 10th, Kunio Hatoyama's second son victorious in divisive Fukuoka 6th election (Page 2) . Sankei Shimbun . Japanese . 23 October 2016 . 25 October 2016.
  6. Web site: 【衆院ダブル補選】東京10区は小池百合子氏支援の自民・若狭勝氏が勝利 福岡6区は鳩山邦夫氏の次男が分裂選挙を制す . (House of Reps. Double By-Election) LDP's Masaru Wakasa supported by Yuriko Koike wins Tokyo 10th, Kunio Hatoyama's second son victorious in divisive Fukuoka 6th election (Page 1) . Sankei Shimbun . Japanese . 23 October 2016 . 25 October 2016.