Key Facts
• November 23, 2025: Mitsuke City mayoral election announced; no challengers for Ryo Inada.
• Ryo Inada, 54, re-elected unopposed for a second term as mayor.
• Inada emphasized tackling population decline as the city’s biggest challenge.
• Advocated for business attraction, regional healthcare, and public facility optimization.
• Former Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism official with prior regional development experience.
• First elected in 2019 after defeating a new candidate in a competitive race.
• Achievements include increasing hometown tax donations tenfold and drafting a 10-year comprehensive plan.
• Plans to consolidate elementary and middle schools for the first time since 1986.
• Supported Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanakaku’s decision on nuclear plant reactivation, urging improved evacuation measures.
• Campaign slogan: “Creating a town with the highest living satisfaction.”
Summary
Ryo Inada, 54, was re-elected unopposed as mayor of Mitsuke City, Niigata Prefecture, on November 23, 2025. A former official of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Inada first became mayor in 2019 after a competitive election. During his first term, he prioritized citizen engagement, economic revitalization, and child-rearing support, achieving significant milestones such as a tenfold increase in hometown tax donations and drafting a 10-year city plan. For his second term, Inada aims to address population decline, attract businesses, enhance regional healthcare, and optimize public facilities. He also plans to consolidate schools for the first time since 1986. Inada expressed support for Governor Hideyo Hanakaku’s decision to reactivate the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, emphasizing the need for improved evacuation measures. His leadership continues to focus on creating a vibrant and sustainable community.
