Key Facts
• July 3: Official announcement of Japan’s Senate election.
• July 20: Voting day for Kumamoto constituency.
• Junya Ogawa, Secretary-General of the Constitutional Democratic Party, visited Kumamoto on June 26.
• Ogawa emphasized reducing food tax to zero as a measure against rising prices.
• Ogawa labeled the election as a “government selection election” aiming to reduce the ruling coalition’s majority.
• Japan Innovation Party’s Kumamoto branch decided on a “voluntary voting” policy for the election.
• Initially, the Innovation Party planned to support Satoshi Kamata (Constitutional Democratic Party) but later withdrew.
• Candidates for Kumamoto constituency:
| 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 visited Kumamoto, advocating for tax reductions and framing the election as pivotal for government change. Meanwhile, the Japan Innovation Party’s Kumamoto branch shifted its stance, opting for voluntary voting after retracting support for Satoshi Kamata. The Kumamoto constituency will see three candidates: Seiji Baba (Liberal Democratic Party), Satoshi Kamata (Constitutional Democratic Party), and Seitaro Yamaguchi (Sanseito). The election is set for July 3 (announcement) and July 20 (voting).
