On February 4, 2024, votes were counted for the mayoral election in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Although the incumbent won, long-standing conventions were broken and the election turned into an unusual one-on-one battle. What choices did the citizens make?
In the Toyota mayoral election held on the 4th, incumbent Toshihiko Ota was elected for the fourth time.
Mr. Toshihiko Ota:
“If you look at the results, I think it was tough.”
Mr. Ota, who recalled that it was a tough battle, faced an unusual election campaign in which the long-standing system of only one candidate was broken.
Toyota City is home to Toyota Motor Corporation’s headquarters and is known as a city of cars, with a population of approximately 420,000 people, making it the second largest city in the prefecture after Nagoya City.
For more than half a century, the election to select the top government has been a unique practice in which the LDP-affiliated faction of the city council, the labor union-affiliated faction, and various groups such as the business community pool together to select a single candidate. But this time…
Masahiro Suzuki:
“A candidate with an overwhelming advantage is decided behind closed doors. Is Toyota City okay with closed-door politics with no citizens present?”
Masahiro Suzuki, a prefectural assembly member of the Liberal Democratic Party, announced his candidacy by saying “no” to long-standing convention. The Liberal Democratic Party-affiliated faction of the city council came to support them, calling for reform of the city’s administration.
But for the Liberal Democratic Party…
Tetsuya Yagi, Member of the House of Representatives:
“In Tokyo, there is a violent storm blowing inside the National Diet, but the wind is also blowing in Toyota City.I think a new wind full of hope is blowing, urging us to change the world.” and”
Incumbent Mr. Ota announced his candidacy, highlighting his accomplishments over 12 years for three terms. In addition to union-affiliated factions, mayors from surrounding municipalities and others came to provide support, resulting in a situation that truly divided the city into two.
Mr. Toshihiko Ota:
“It’s a little different (from past elections). It’s different, but I just want you to understand what I’ve been doing and what I’m thinking. I want to face this campaign with sincerity.”
Citizens faced an unprecedented one-on-one election battle…
Toyota citizens in their 50s:
“It’s been a long time since we had a showdown, so I thought the result would be interesting.”
Toyota citizens in their 40s:
“It’s always been decided, so it’s better for me to have a choice.”
And then the 4th day arrived. The incumbent, Mr. Ota, won the election in a close race with a margin of just over 2,000 votes.
Mr. Toshihiko Ota:
“In this fourth term, I want to do my best in city government for the past four years.”
Mr. Suzuki lost…
Masahiro Suzuki:
“We were just one step away. I hope everyone will take the next step in this historic battle.”
Mr. Ota is heading into his fourth term running the city government. After an election that divided the motoring community into two, all eyes are on how the city will be steered.