2022 Nagasaki gubernatorial election

The 2022 Nagasaki gubernatorial election was a gubernatorial election held on 20 February 2022 to elect the next governor of Nagasaki (山口県, Nagasaki-ken), a prefecture of Japan in the north-west of Kyushu.

2022 Nagasaki gubernatorial election

← 2018 20 February 2022 2026 →
Turnout47.83% Increase 11.80%
 
Nominee Kengo Oishi Hōdō Nakamura Yoshihiko Miyazawa
Party Independent Independent Independent
Popular vote 239,415 238,874 46,794
Percentage 45.60% 45.49% 8.91%
Supported by Ishin
LDP - Prefectural
CDP
DPFP
LDP-Nakaumurite
JCP

Results by municipality

Governor before election

Hōdō Nakamura
Independent

Elected Governor

Kengo Oishi
Independent

Three-term incumbent Hōdō Nakamura ran for re-election for a fourth four-year term, announcing his intentions on the final session of the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly for 2021 on 21 December.[1] Whether he would run was the subject of speculation and confusion, as he had made comments in late 2021 suggesting that he would not run and instead "pass the baton to the next leader".[2][3] Nakamura had attempted to recruit a successor; but decided to run himself after those efforts fell through.[4] LDP Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly Secretary-General Keisuke Yamamoto [ja] offered to run as a successor, but reportedly had policy disagreements with Nakamura, and decided not to run with Nakamura running. Nakaumura faced medical doctor Kengo Oishi and businessman Yoshihiko Miyazawa.

After previously endorsing Nakamura in 2010, 2014, and 2018, the prefectural Liberal Democratic Party federation instead voted to endorse the political newcomer Oishi in this election, due to dissatisfaction in Nakamura's governing.[5][6] This caused a split in support amongst local LDP politicians, with two Nagasaki LDP Diet members and nearly half of the LDP's prefectural assembly members supporting Nakamura despite the federation's endorsement of Oishi.[7]

Oishi narrowly defeated Nakamura by a margin of 541 votes (0.10%). He took office on 2 March. At 39 years old, Oishi became the youngest governor in Japan.[6][8]

Candidates

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Withdrew candidacy

  • Hirohiko Terada, 60 year-old civic group representative
  • Ryuji Tanaka, 78 year-old former Kobe University assistant professor[9]

Issues

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Issues in the election included COVID-19-related policies amidst the pandemic, extending the then-upcoming Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen through Saga Prefecture, construction of the Ishiki Dam [ja], and a potential integrated resort facility in the prefecture.[1][10]

Endorsements

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Kengo Oishi
Cabinet members
National Diet members
Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly members
  • Keisuke Yamamoto [ja], Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly member for Iki City (2011–2022), Secretary-General of LDP Nagasaki Prefectural Federation (LDP)[7]
Political parties
Organizations
Hōdō Nakamura
National Diet members
Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly members
  • Toshiharu Yae [ja], Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly member for Isahaya City (1987–2023), President of Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly (2003–2005, 2017–2018) (LDP)[13]
Local municipality mayors
Political parties
Organizations
Yoshihiko Miyazawa
Political parties
Declined to endorse
Political parties

Results

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2022 Nagasaki gubernatorial election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent (supported by Ishin, LDP (officially)) Kengo Oishi 239,415 45.60 N/A
Independent (supported by CDP, DPFP, LDP (faction)) Hōdō Nakamura (incumbent) 238,874 45.49   31.27
Independent (supported by JCP) Yoshihiko Miyazawa 46,794 8.91   14.33
Turnout 529,162 47.83   11.80
Rejected ballots 4,073 0.77
Registered electors 1,106,436
Election results by municipality [20]
Municipality Kengo Oishi Hōdō Nakamura Yoshihiko Miyazawa
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Total 239,415 45.60% 238,874 45.49% 46,794 8.91%
Nagasaki City 79,754 51.67% 58,688 38.02% 15,912 10.31%
Sasebo 40,629 47.45% 36,436 42.56% 8,552 9.99%
Shimabara 4,310 25.46% 11,451 67.63% 1,170 6.91%
Isahaya 22,886 43.24% 25,282 47.77% 4,761 9.00%
Omura 16,755 45.67% 16,282 44.38% 3,647 9.94%
Hirado 5,991 42.50% 7,135 50.62% 969 6.87%
Matsuura 3,719 41.55% 4,533 50.65% 698 7.80%
Tsushima 4,343 29.05% 9,983 66.78% 622 4.16%
Iki 5,029 41.58% 6,367 52.65% 698 5.77%
Goto 12,460 66.40% 5,650 30.11% 656 3.50%
Saikai 5,358 43.70% 5,976 48.74% 927 7.56%
Unzen 6,321 36.00% 10,310 58.72% 927 5.28%
Minamishimabara 4,330 21.59% 14,799 73.80% 925 4.61%
Nagayo 8,483 49.75% 6,635 38.91% 1,932 11.33%
Togitsu 5,483 50.38% 4,419 40.60% 981 9.01%
Higashisonogi 1,285 35.35% 1,943 53.45% 407 11.20%
Kawatana 1,815 32.81% 2,464 44.54% 1,253 22.65%
Hasami 2,241 36.94% 3,127 51.54% 699 11.52%
Ojika 427 27.57% 1,030 66.49% 92 5.94%
Saza 2,198 43.75% 2,321 46.20% 505 10.05%
Shinkamigoto 5,598 55.41% 4,043 40.02% 461 4.56%

References

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  1. ^ a b 長崎県知事選 中村氏が4選出馬表明、大石氏も 山本氏は断念 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election: Mr. Nakamura announced his candidacy for 4th term, Oishi also announces candidacy, and Yamamoto gives up]. Nagasaki Shimbun [ja]. 2021-12-22. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  2. ^ 4選どうする? 長崎・中村知事 告示まで2カ月 態度表明は議会最終日か [4th term? 2 months until governor's election, will Governor Nakamura make an announcement on the last day of the Assembly?]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 2021-12-03. Archived from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  3. ^ a b 長崎知事選保守分裂へ、5人が立候補予定…3日告示、国会議員も二分 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election sees conservative division, 5 candidates scheduled to run... Notice on the 3rd, with assembly members split in half]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  4. ^ 長崎県知事選 中村氏出馬の舞台裏 「後継」決まらず決断 [Behind the scenes of Nakamura's candidacy in the Nagasaki gubernatorial election; "Successor" undecided]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 2021-12-22. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  5. ^ a b c 長崎県知事選 自民県連、現職推薦せず 新人大石氏に決定 保守分裂も [Nagasaki Gubernatorial Election: LDP Prefectural Federation does not recommend incumbent and decides on newcomer Oishi; Conservatives divided]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 2021-12-30. Archived from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  6. ^ a b "Nagasaki doctor elected as Japan's youngest governor". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  7. ^ a b c d e f 長崎県知事選 大石氏後援会 自民分裂に苦言 県議15人「しっかり支える」 金子農相も支援 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election: Oishi support group complains about the split of the Liberal Democratic Party; 15 prefectural assembly members "firmly support"; Agriculture Minister Kaneko also supports]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 2022-01-15. Archived from the original on 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  8. ^ "Incumbent defeated in Nagasaki governor election". The Japan Times. 2022-02-21. Archived from the original on 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  9. ^ 【長崎】県知事選告示へ立候補届け出受理リハ-サル [[Nagasaki] Rehearsal for acceptance of candidature notification for prefectural gubernatorial election]. Nagasaki Culture Telecasting (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-05. 1月13日に立候補を表明していた田中隆治さん(78)は2日午前9時半すぎに長崎県選挙管理委員会に電話で出馬を取りやめる意向を伝えたということです。 [Ryuji Tanaka (78), who announced his candidacy on January 13, called the Nagasaki Prefectural Election Management Committee shortly after 9:30 am on the 2nd to inform him of his intention to cancel his candidacy.]
  10. ^ 長崎県知事選 候補者アンケート [Nagasaki Prefectural Gubernatorial Election Candidate Questionnaire]. NHK (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  11. ^ Izumi, Shuhei (2022-01-29). 維新が大石氏推薦 [Ishin recommends Mr. Oishi]. Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  12. ^ a b c d 長崎県知事選巡り 推薦相次ぐ 農林は現職、医療は新人 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election recommendations: Agriculture and Forestry groups endorse incumbent, Medical groups endorse newcomer]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 2021-12-29. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  13. ^ 自民、半世紀ぶりに分裂へ 現職・新顔巡り「全面戦争」 長崎知事選 [Liberal Democratic Party split for the first time in half a century, "All-out war" over incumbent and newcomer in Nagasaki Governor's election]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2022-02-01. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-05. 結局、県議33人のうち重鎮の八江利春氏(82)ら約半数が中村氏の支持に回った。 [In the end, about half of the 33 prefectural assembly members, including Toshiharu Yae, 82, who is an influential figure, turned to support Nakamura.]
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v 【長崎】知事選 21市町長が中村知事に推薦状 [[Nagasaki] Mayors of 21 municipalities send letters of recommendation to Governor Nakamura for gubernatorial election]. Nagasaki Culture Telecasting (in Japanese). 2021-12-22. Archived from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-26. 長崎県内21市町の市長と町長全員が中村知事の支援を表明したことになります [All 21 town and city mayors of Nagasaki Prefecture expressed their support for Governor Nakamura.]
  15. ^ a b 長崎県知事選 国民、立民が中村氏支持 両県連、常任幹事会などで決定 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election: DPFP, CDP choose support Mr. Nakamura at respective prefectural federation meetings]. Nagasaki Shimbun. 2022-01-17. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  16. ^ 長崎知事選 商工連盟県内8地区 中村知事に出馬を要請 [Nagasaki Governor's Election: Eight Districts of Chamber of Commerce and Industry request Governor Nakamura to run]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). 2021-12-16. Archived from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  17. ^ 知事選 連合長崎は中村氏を推薦 「進行形の課題 解決を」 [Gubernatorial election: RENGO Nagasaki recommends Mr. Nakamura, "We want ongoing problems solved"]. Nagasaki Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  18. ^ Izumi, Shuhei. 長崎県知事選、公明が自主投票決める [In Nagasaki gubernatorial election, Komeito decides on voluntary vote]. Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  19. ^ 長崎県知事選 社民県連は自主投票に オンライン常任幹事会 [Nagasaki gubernatorial election: Social Democratic Party Prefectural Federation Standing Committee decides to hold voluntary vote]. Nagasaki Shimbun. 2022-01-30. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  20. ^ a b 長崎県知事選挙の結果 | 長崎県 [Results of the Nagasaki gubernatorial election]. Nagasaki Prefecture (in Japanese). 2022-02-20. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2022-07-30.