2024 Kyoto mayoral election explained

Election Name:2024 Kyoto mayoral election
Flag Image:File:Flag of Kyoto City.svg
Type:mayoral
Previous Election:2020 Kyoto mayoral election
Previous Year:2020
Election Date:4 February 2024
Next Election:2028 Kyoto mayoral election
Next Year:2028
Image1:Koji Matsui cropped 1 Koji Matsui 20090916.jpg
Colour1:000099
Candidate1:Koji Matsui
Party1:Independent
Popular Vote1:177,454
Percentage1:37.92%
1Blank:Supported by
1Data1:LDP, CDP, Komeito, DPP
Candidate2:Kazuhito Fukuyama
Party2:Independent
Popular Vote2:161,203
Percentage2:34.44%
1Data2:JCP
Image4:Murayama Syoei 20170415 cropped.jpg
Colour4:ff6310
Candidate4:Shōei Murayama
Party4:Independent
Popular Vote4:72,613
Percentage4:15.52%
Image5: IND
Colour5:dfdfdf
Candidate5:Shinji Ninoyu
Party5:Independent
Popular Vote5:54,430
Percentage5:11.63%
Map Size:200px
Mayor
Before Election:Daisaku Kadokawa
Before Party:Independent
After Election:Koji Matsui
After Party:Independent

The 2024 Kyoto mayoral election was held on 4 February 2024. Incumbent mayor Daisaku Kadokawa did not run for a fifth term. Former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koji Matsui won by a slim margin of 3.48% against challengers Kazuhito Fukuyama, Shōei Murayama, and Shinji Ninoyu, two of which had run in the previous 2020 election.

Overview

Daisaku Kadokawa opted against running for a fifth term.[1] This was the first time since the 2008 election that no incumbent had run for another term. Koji Matsui, who had previously served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Hatoyama Cabinet from 2009 to 2010, was supported by a coalition of governmental and non-governmental political groups, including the LDP, CDP, Komeito, and the DPP.[2] Kazuhito Fukuyama, who had run for mayor in 2020 with the JCPs backing, received support from the party again. Also running was former 2020 and 2008 candidate Shōei Murayama, Independent and former Kyoto Prefectural Assembly member Shinji Ninoyu, and Heian Conservative Party candidate Yu Kouke.

Campaigning

Campaigning centered around the overtourism of Kyoto and the financial crisis the city was facing. Matsui campaigned utilizing solutions to the tourism issue, including introducing a new two-tiered transportation system for tourists and non-tourists. He also advertised via using his advancements as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. The LDP was heavily disengaged from his campaign, and he primarily utilized CDP opposition leaders, including Kenta Izumi, who served as a personal friend of Matsui. Fukuyama utilized the LDP endorsement of Matsui to attack him by highlighting the slush fund scandal the party had been facing, and also advertising the construction of a new social welfare system and attempting to deal with both the budget crisis and overtourism as well.[3]

Candidates

In order of notification of candidacy:

Candidate Age Party Title
Kazuhito Fukuyama62Independent
(Backed by JCP)
Lawyer
Former candidate for Mayor
Shōei Murayama45IndependentFormer Kyoto City Councilor
Policy Advisor
Shinji Ninoyu44IndependentFormer Kyoto Prefectural Assembly Member
Koji Matsui63Independent
(Backed by LDP, CDP, Komeito, DPP)
Former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary
Former Member of the House of Councillors
Yu Kouke35Heian Conservative PartyBusinessman

Results

Ward! colspan="2" rowspan="1"
Koji MatsuiKazuhito FukuyamaShōei MurayamaShinji NinoyuYu Kouke
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
Total177,45437.92%161,20334.44%72,61315.52%54,43011.63%2,3160.49%
Kita14,64836.14%15,18437.46%6,18815.27%4,35510.75%1550.38%
Kamigyō10,33336.16%10,55836.95%4,40515.42%3,16011.06%1160.41%
Sakyō18,73331.70%23,15339.18%12,66121.43%4,2917.26%2530.43%
Nakagyō15,31538.55%13,17433.16%6,33315.94%4,69211.81%2110.53%
Higashiyama4,33137.61%3,97134.48%1,92616.72%1,21610.56%720.63%
Yamashina16,92142.26%12,97432.40%5,83214.56%4,10910.26%2060.51%
Shimogyō10,05838.28%8,52732.45%4,46817.01%3,09911.79%1220.46%
Minami11,68640.99%9,31032.66%4,17214.63%3,14511.03%1950.68%
Ukyō23,10134.44%21,80432.50%9,55114.24%12,35818.42%2710.40%
Nishikyō19,03639.44%15,76632.67%7,37515.28%5,84012.10%2460.51%
Fushimi33,29242.46%26,78234.16%9,70212.37%8,16510.41%4690.60%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 門川京都市長、不出馬の意向 来年の市長選 4期で退任へ 23日夕、正式表明|社会|地域のニュース|京都新聞 . 京都新聞 . 2023-08-23 . 2024-02-04 . ja.
  2. Web site: Koji Matsui Wins 1st Term as Kyoto Mayor . Japan News . Jiji Press . 7 February 2024.
  3. Web site: Johnston . Eric . New Kyoto mayor aims to tackle over-tourism with higher fares . japantimes . Japan Times . 8 February 2024.