Key Facts
• July 3, 2025: Muneo Suzuki and Koichi Nakagawa appeared at a campaign rally in Sapporo.
• Suzuki, rejoining the Liberal Democratic Party after 23 years, is running in the proportional representation block.
• Koichi Nakagawa, nephew of the late Shoichi Nakagawa, was introduced as the new branch leader for Hokkaido’s 11th district.
• Muneo Suzuki previously served as a secretary to Ichiro Nakagawa, Shoichi’s father, before a political rivalry emerged.
• The Nakagawa family maintained political influence in Tokachi until Yukiko Nakagawa’s defeat in the 2024 general election.
• Koichi Nakagawa revealed this was his first-ever campaign tour.
• Suzuki publicly introduced Koichi as the grandson of Ichiro Nakagawa, urging support for him in Tokachi.
• The event highlighted a symbolic reconciliation of past political rivalries, drawing applause from the crowd.
Summary
On July 3, 2025, Muneo Suzuki, a veteran politician rejoining the Liberal Democratic Party after 23 years, appeared at a campaign rally in Sapporo alongside Koichi Nakagawa, nephew of the late Shoichi Nakagawa. Suzuki introduced Koichi as the new branch leader for Hokkaido’s 11th district, marking his first campaign tour. The event symbolized a reconciliation of historical political rivalries between Suzuki and the Nakagawa family, who had long dominated Tokachi’s political landscape. The rally drew significant attention and applause, underscoring the enduring legacy of the Nakagawa family and Suzuki’s political influence.
