Key Facts
• July 20, 2025: Voting for the 27th Upper House Election.
• Four candidates from Tokushima and Kochi shared their inflation countermeasures.
• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate Munetaka Oishi emphasized speed and local-focused subsidies.
• Independent candidate Kazuhito Hirota proposed abolishing the 51-year-old gasoline tax surcharge.
• Sanseito candidate Mikihiro Kinjo advocated for consumption tax reduction to boost wages and demand.
• NHK Party candidate Koji Nakajima called for abolishing the consumption tax entirely.
• LDP Secretary-General announced plans to abolish the gasoline tax surcharge within the fiscal year.
Summary
In the Tokushima and Kochi electoral district, four candidates presented their strategies to address inflation ahead of the July 20, 2025, Upper House election. Munetaka Oishi (LDP) prioritized swift and locally tailored financial support, while Kazuhito Hirota (Independent) focused on abolishing the long-standing gasoline tax surcharge to alleviate costs in car-dependent Kochi. Mikihiro Kinjo (Sanseito) proposed reducing the consumption tax to stimulate wages and economic demand, and Koji Nakajima (NHK Party) advocated for the complete abolition of the consumption tax, criticizing current government policies. The LDP Secretary-General also indicated plans to eliminate the gasoline tax surcharge within the fiscal year. These proposals highlight diverse approaches to tackling inflation in the region.
