Key Facts
• July 6, 2025: Mayoral election held in Dōshi Village, Yamanashi Prefecture.
• Kazuhei Dewa (76), former village council chair, wins with 655 votes.
• Defeated opponent Shigehide Suwamoto (64), former village general affairs chief, received 583 votes.
• Vote margin: 72 votes; voter turnout: 93.55% (1,334 eligible voters).
• Election focused on continuing or reforming policies of retiring Mayor Tomiya Nagata (83).
• Dewa, Nagata’s de facto successor, pledged to begin construction of Shindōzaka Tunnel within 3 years.
• Dewa secured support from Governor Kōtarō Nagasaki.
• Suwamoto advocated policy change and community reconciliation, supported by former Mayor Masahiro Ōta and local MP Noriko Horiuchi.
• Previous elections also saw narrow margins: 35 votes (2013), 101 votes (2017), and 11 votes (2021).
• 2021 election marred by voter fraud involving Nagata’s relatives, leading to fines in 2023.
• Ongoing political divisions influenced the 2025 election, with both candidates emphasizing dialogue and unity.
Summary
The 2025 mayoral election in Dōshi Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, saw Kazuhei Dewa, a 76-year-old former village council chair, narrowly defeat Shigehide Suwamoto, a 64-year-old former general affairs chief, by 72 votes. With a voter turnout of 93.55%, the election highlighted the village’s deep political divisions. Dewa, backed by retiring Mayor Tomiya Nagata and Governor Kōtarō Nagasaki, campaigned on continuing Nagata’s policies, including the Shindōzaka Tunnel project. Suwamoto, supported by former Mayor Masahiro Ōta and MP Noriko Horiuchi, called for policy reform and community reconciliation. The election follows years of contentious politics, including a voter fraud scandal in 2021. Both candidates emphasized unity, reflecting the village’s ongoing need for reconciliation.
