Key Facts
• Ishigaki mayoral election held on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
• Yoshitaka Nakayama, backed by Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, won his fifth term.
• Nakayama secured 12,923 votes in the election.
• Election followed Nakayama’s dismissal due to a no-confidence motion.
• Opponent Yoshiyuki Toita, supported by opposition city council factions, fell short.
• Voter turnout was 63.0%, the lowest in Ishigaki’s history, down 7.5 points from the previous election.
• Nakayama pledged to lead Ishigaki for four more years and create “Japan’s happiest city.”
Summary
Yoshitaka Nakayama has been re-elected as mayor of Ishigaki City for a fifth term in the election held on August 17, 2025. Backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, Nakayama received 12,923 votes, defeating his opponent Yoshiyuki Toita, who was supported by opposition factions. The election was held following Nakayama’s dismissal due to a no-confidence motion, making it a challenging campaign. Voter turnout hit a record low of 63.0%, a 7.5-point drop from the previous election. Nakayama expressed gratitude for his victory and committed to steering Ishigaki toward becoming “Japan’s happiest city” over the next four years.
