Key Facts
• August 31: Iwaki mayoral election officially announced, three candidates declared.
• Candidates: Hiroyuki Uchida (incumbent), Noboru Usami (former House of Representatives member), Toshio Shimizu (former mayor).
• Uchida seeks second term, focusing on healthcare, disaster prevention, and attracting a disaster management agency.
• Usami opposes building a soccer stadium in a tsunami-prone area, prioritizing life-saving policies.
• Shimizu proposes industrial development and connecting Iwaki to major cities via high-speed transport.
• Election day: September 7, 2025, with key issues including healthcare, disaster preparedness, and urban development.
Summary
The Iwaki mayoral election, set for September 7, 2025, was officially announced on August 31. Three candidates are competing: incumbent Hiroyuki Uchida, former House of Representatives member Noboru Usami, and former mayor Toshio Shimizu. Uchida aims to enhance healthcare and disaster preparedness, while Usami opposes a controversial soccer stadium project in a tsunami-prone area. Shimizu focuses on industrial growth and improved transportation links. Key issues include evaluating Uchida’s administration, healthcare, disaster prevention, and urban planning. The election marks a rematch of the 2019 contest, with all three candidates having faced off previously.
