Key Facts
• July 3: Official announcement of Japan’s Senate election; voting on July 20.
• June 26: Junya Ogawa, Secretary-General of the Constitutional Democratic Party, campaigns in Kumamoto.
• Ogawa pledges to eliminate sales tax on food as a measure against rising prices.
• Ogawa labels the election a “government selection election,” aiming to reduce the ruling coalition’s majority.
• Japan Innovation Party’s Kumamoto branch decides on “independent voting” for the election.
• Initially, the Innovation Party planned to support Satoshi Kamata (Constitutional Democratic Party) but later withdrew.
• Candidates for Kumamoto district:
| Party | Candidate Name | Age |
|————————|———————-|—–|
| Liberal Democratic | Seiji Baba (Incumbent) | 60 |
| Constitutional Democratic | Satoshi Kamata (New) | 60 |
| Sanseito | Seitaro Yamaguchi (New) | 36 |
Summary
As Japan’s Senate election approaches, political activity intensifies. The Constitutional Democratic Party’s Junya Ogawa emphasized tackling inflation by eliminating food sales tax and framed the election as a pivotal “government selection” moment. Meanwhile, the Japan Innovation Party’s Kumamoto branch opted for independent voting after retracting support for Satoshi Kamata. Three candidates, including Seiji Baba (Liberal Democratic Party), Satoshi Kamata (Constitutional Democratic Party), and Seitaro Yamaguchi (Sanseito), are contesting the Kumamoto district. The election will be officially announced on July 3, with voting scheduled for July 20.
