Key Facts
• Tomioka mayoral election voting and counting on April 12.
• Four candidates: incumbent Yoshinori Enomoto (57), and three newcomers Nobuhiko Miyazawa (70), Masahide Mobara (67), Tomohiro Otsuka (43).
• First four-candidate race in 20 years since 2006.
• Main issues: declining birthrate and regional revitalization.
• Enomoto emphasizes free childcare and school meal fees, plus industrial park development.
• Miyazawa proposes roadside station near Tomioka interchange, road improvements, IT company attraction.
• Mobara advocates school reorganization, reviewing large projects, halting birthrate decline and debt increase.
• Otsuka highlights administrative reform and youth employment creation, leveraging former corporate experience.
• Voting from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 27 city locations; counting starts 7:30 p.m. at city hall.
• Registered voters as of April 4: 37,874.
Summary
The Tomioka mayoral election in Gunma Prefecture is set for April 12, featuring a rare four-candidate contest after 20 years. Incumbent Yoshinori Enomoto seeks a third term, competing against three newcomers: former city councilors Nobuhiko Miyazawa and Masahide Mobara, and organization director Tomohiro Otsuka. Key campaign themes include addressing the advancing declining birthrate and revitalizing the local economy. Enomoto highlights his achievements in free childcare and school meal programs alongside plans for industrial park development. Miyazawa focuses on infrastructure projects such as a new roadside station and IT business attraction. Mobara calls for school system reforms and fiscal responsibility to curb population and debt issues. Otsuka emphasizes administrative reforms and creating jobs for young people, drawing on his corporate background. Voting will be conducted across 27 locations with nearly 38,000 registered voters, and results will be announced the same evening.
