Key Facts
• Ishigaki mayoral election candidacy closed on August 10 at 5 PM.
• Candidates: Yoshiyuki Toita (55, independent, former city councilor) and Yoshitaka Nakayama (58, independent, former mayor, backed by LDP and Komeito).
• Election day set for August 17, 2025.
• Nakayama seeks a fifth term after losing office due to a no-confidence vote over a document falsification scandal.
• Key issues: continuation or change of Nakayama’s 15-year administration, economic and tourism policies, cost-of-living support, and security concerns.
• Voter registration as of August 9: 39,399 (19,992 men, 19,407 women).
• Ishigaki City Council by-election also announced, with four independent candidates vying for one vacancy: Hiroki Niizato (43), Moriko Higashiyama (58), Takeshi Uechi (73), and Yuichi Fujimoto (57).
Summary
The Ishigaki mayoral election has been confirmed as a two-way race between Yoshiyuki Toita and Yoshitaka Nakayama, with voting scheduled for August 17, 2025. Nakayama, seeking a fifth term, faces challenges following his removal from office due to a no-confidence vote linked to a document falsification scandal. The election centers on whether to continue Nakayama’s 15-year administration or pursue change. Key issues include economic and tourism development, cost-of-living support, and security policies. Voter registration stands at 39,399. A city council by-election will also take place, with four independent candidates competing for one vacancy.
