Key Facts
• September 29: Tetsuji Watanabe, 45, announced candidacy for Asakita Ward by-election.
• By-election follows resignation of former prefectural assembly member due to a large-scale bribery case.
• Watanabe is the husband of Noriko Watanabe, the resigned assembly member.
• He is a native of Osaka and CEO of an advertising production company.
• Watanabe aims to enhance disaster preparedness policies in the region.
• Election date: November 9, 2025.
• Other candidates include independent Hiroshi Mizuguchi and Communist Party’s Fumiko Takamatsu.
Summary
Tetsuji Watanabe, a 45-year-old Osaka native and CEO of an advertising company, has declared his candidacy for the Hiroshima Asakita Ward by-election. This election was triggered by the resignation of his wife, Noriko Watanabe, a former prefectural assembly member, following a large-scale bribery scandal. Watanabe expressed his commitment to representing local voices and prioritizing disaster preparedness policies. The by-election is scheduled for November 9, 2025, with other candidates including independent Hiroshi Mizuguchi and Communist Party’s Fumiko Takamatsu.
