Key Facts
• In the 2025 Upper House election, Kagoshima’s ruling party candidate lost after 8 consecutive wins.
• Independent candidate Tomomi Otsuji won, becoming Kagoshima’s first female national legislator.
• Rising prices and stagnant incomes led to voter dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
• Exit polls revealed some ruling party supporters voted for Otsuji, seeking change.
• Otsuji secured the majority of votes from unaffiliated voters, the largest demographic.
• Voter turnout in Kagoshima reached 56.46%, up 7.83 points from the previous election.
• Early voting hit a record high, with 352,052 participants, 26.94% of eligible voters.
• Among voters under 40, Makino from the Sanseitō party outperformed Otsuji.
• Social media played a key role in spreading Sanseitō’s message to younger voters.
• The election highlighted dissatisfaction with traditional politics and economic stagnation.
Summary
The 2025 Upper House election in Kagoshima marked a historic shift as independent candidate Tomomi Otsuji defeated the ruling party, ending its eight-election winning streak. Otsuji’s victory, driven by economic dissatisfaction and a call for change, also made her the first female national legislator from Kagoshima. Exit polls showed that even ruling party supporters sought alternatives, while unaffiliated voters overwhelmingly backed Otsuji. Younger voters, however, leaned toward Sanseitō’s Makino, influenced by social media and frustration with traditional politics. Voter turnout surged to 56.46%, with record-breaking early voting participation. This election underscores the need for political and economic reform in Kagoshima.
