Key Facts
• August 3: Yokohama mayoral election held, Takeharu Yamanaka re-elected.
• Yamanaka, 52, defeated five independent challengers with 663,876 votes.
• Voter turnout: 41.64%, down 7.41 points from the previous election.
• Yamanaka pledged to enhance Yokohama’s growth and improve public services.
• Supported by Constitutional Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, and Komeito.
• Key policies: free medical care for children up to 18, disaster-resilient city planning.
• Yokohama’s population increased for the first time in four years in 2025.
• Yamanaka opposed casino development in his first term, canceling the IR project.
• Runner-up: Yasuo Tanaka, 69, with 264,740 votes.
• Other candidates’ proposals included tax cuts, disaster preparedness, and education reforms.
Summary
Takeharu Yamanaka secured a second term as Yokohama mayor, defeating five independent candidates in the August 3 election. Garnering 663,876 votes, Yamanaka emphasized his commitment to advancing Yokohama’s growth and improving public services, including free medical care for children up to 18 and disaster-resilient city planning. Supported by major political parties and local business groups, his policies resonated with voters, particularly as Yokohama’s population saw its first increase in four years. Yamanaka’s first term was marked by his opposition to casino development, a stance that led to the cancellation of the IR project. Despite a lower voter turnout of 41.64%, his re-election highlights strong public support for his vision of a more family-friendly and accessible city.
