Key Facts
• Senate election officially announced on July 3, 2025.
• Four candidates from Tokushima-Kochi constituency shared views on pension reform.
• Liberal Democratic Party candidate So Oishi emphasized securing broad funding sources.
• Independent candidate Hajime Hirota proposed raising pensions by $1,000 annually.
• Sanseitō candidate Mikihiro Kinjo suggested incentivizing preventive healthcare with travel coupons.
• NHK Party candidate Koji Nakajima criticized recent pension reform law cutting survivor benefits after 5 years.
Summary
In the Tokushima-Kochi constituency Senate election, four candidates presented their perspectives on pension reform. So Oishi (Liberal Democratic Party) highlighted the importance of equitable funding, including consumption tax adjustments, and addressing regional disparities. Hajime Hirota (Independent) advocated reallocating tax revenue to increase pensions by $1,000 annually, ensuring fairness with welfare recipients. Mikihiro Kinjo (Sanseitō) proposed preventive healthcare measures and using government bonds to boost pension payouts. Koji Nakajima (NHK Party) criticized recent legislative changes reducing survivor benefits to five years, urging voters to act. The candidates’ diverse approaches reflect varying priorities for addressing Japan’s aging population and pension challenges.
