Key Facts
• June 18: Rally in Hiroshima gathered 550 union members supporting Shinji Morimoto’s reelection.
• Morimoto, 52, endorsed by Constitutional Democratic Party and backed by Hiroshima opposition coalition.
• Haruko Miyaguchi, 49, announced withdrawal from 2025 election via social media on June 13.
• Miyaguchi, elected in 2020 after a bribery scandal, left the party in January 2025.
• Hiroshima’s two-seat district sees 20,000–25,000 union votes, making competition tight.
• December 2024: Morimoto’s candidacy officially confirmed by the party.
• Miyaguchi’s departure viewed as protest against Morimoto’s endorsement.
• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) aims to reclaim a seat lost in 2020.
• LDP candidate Hidenori Nishida, 43, faces challenges from past scandals and economic discontent.
• Rising inflation and political distrust weigh heavily on the ruling party’s prospects.
Summary
The Hiroshima election district is witnessing significant political shifts ahead of the 2025 Upper House election. Shinji Morimoto, backed by the Constitutional Democratic Party and local opposition groups, seeks a third term. However, Haruko Miyaguchi, a key figure in the 2020 election upset, has withdrawn her candidacy and left the party, citing dissatisfaction with internal decisions. This move has sparked tensions within the opposition, as unifying support for Morimoto becomes critical in the two-seat district. Meanwhile, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, represented by Hidenori Nishida, aims to reclaim a seat lost in 2020 but faces challenges from past scandals and economic pressures. The election underscores the complexities of candidate unification and the broader political landscape in Hiroshima.
